Polypeptides Having Protease Activity and Polynucleotides Encoding Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having protease activity and isolated polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/125,645 filed Mar. 11, 2014, now pending, which is a 35 U.S.C. 371national application of international application no. PCT/EP2012/062144filed Jun. 22, 2012, which claims priority or the benefit under 35U.S.C. 119 of European application no. 1117317.8 filed Jun. 24, 2011 andU.S. provisional application No. 61/501,319 filed Jun. 27, 2011. Thecontent of each application is fully incorporated herein by reference.

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

This application contains a Sequence Listing in computer readable form,which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to polypeptides having protease activityand polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention alsorelates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprisingthe polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using thepolypeptides.

Description of the Related Art

The present invention provides polypeptides having protease activity andpolynucleotides encoding the polypeptides.

The detergent industry has for more than 30 years implemented differentenzymes in detergent formulations, most commonly used enzymes includesproteases, amylases and lipases each adapted for removing various typesof stains. In addition to the enzymes detergent compositions typicallyinclude a complex combination of ingredients. For example, most cleaningproducts include surfactant system, bleaching agents or builders.Despite the complexity of current detergents, there remains a need fordeveloping new detergent compositions comprising new enzymes and/orenzyme blends.

Traditionally laundering has been done at elevated temperatures and wellknown detergents have been selected to perform at higher temperatures,typically in the range of 40-60° C.

The increased focus on improving the washing processes in order to makethem more environmental friendly has resulted in a global tendency tolowering wash time, pH and temperature, decreasing the amount ofdetergent components which may influence the environment negatively.

There is therefore a desire to launder at lower temperature andtherefore a need for detergent proteases having high performance at lowtemperatures.

The present invention is directed to these and other important ends.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having proteaseactivity selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4;

(b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium-high stringency conditions with (i) the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, (ii) the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, or (iii) the full-length complementarystrand of (i) or (ii);

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ IDNO: 1 or 3;

(d) a variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion ofone or more (several) amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 2 or 4; and

(e) a fragment of a polypeptide of (a), (b), (c) or (d) that hasprotease activity.

The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptides comprising acatalytic domain selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a catalytic domain having at least 60% sequence identity to aminoacids 7 to 270 of SEQ ID NO: 2;

(b) a catalytic domain encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) nucleotides 729 to 1520 of SEQ IDNO: 1, (ii) the cDNA sequence encoding the catalytic domain of SEQ IDNO: 1, or (iii) the full-length complementary strand of (i) or (ii);

(c) a catalytic domain encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the catalytic domain of SEQ ID NO: 1;

(d) a variant of a catalytic domain comprising a substitution, deletion,and/or insertion of one or more (several) amino acids of the catalyticdomain of SEQ ID NO: 2; and

(e) a fragment of a catalytic domain of (a), (b), (c), or (d) that hasprotease activity.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides having protease activity, comprising the following motif:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) His Gly Thr (Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Glywherein Xaa is any natural amino acid and (Xaa)₆ mean 6 consecutiveamino acids, where each amino acid may be any natural amino acid, or thecorresponding motif comprising one or two substitutions among the last 8amino acids in the motif.

The present invention also relates to composition comprising thepolypeptides of the invention, in particular detergent compositionscomprising the protease of the invention, such as detergent compositionfor laundry or for manual or automatic dishwash.

The present invention also relates to method for laundering textilesusing a composition comprising the polypeptide of the invention, and tomethods for cleaning hard surfaces.

The present invention also relates to a polynucleotide encoding a signalpeptide comprising or consisting of amino acids −169 to −144 of SEQ IDNO: 2 or -160 to −132 of SEQ ID NO 4, a polynucleotide encoding apropeptide comprising or consisting of amino acids −143 to −1 of SEQ IDNO: 2 or amino acids −131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO 4, or a polynucleotideencoding a signal peptide and a propeptide comprising or consisting ofamino acids −169 to −144 and -143 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids−160 to −132 and -131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO 4 respectively, each of whichis operably linked to a gene encoding a protein; to nucleic acidconstructs, expression vectors, and recombinant host cells comprisingthe polynucleotides; and to methods of producing a protein.

Overview of Sequence Listing

SEQ ID NO: 1 is the DNA sequence of the S8 protease as isolated fromBacillus sp. NN018132.SEQ ID NO: 2 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID NO: 1.SEQ ID NO: 3 is the DNA sequence of the S8 protease as isolated fromBacillus borgouniensis.SEQ ID NO: 4 is the amino acid sequence as deduced from SEQ ID NO: 3.SEQ ID NO: 5 is the DNA sequence of the S8 protease from Paenibacillusdendritiformis having the accession number EMBL:GQ891986.SEQ ID NO: 6 is the amino acid public sequence of the Paenibacillusdendritiformis protease having the accession number SWISSPROT:DOEVD2.SEQ ID NO: 7 and 8 are primers for amplifying Bacillus sp. NN018132.SEQ ID NO: 9 and 10 are primers for amplifying Bacillus borgouniensis.SEQ ID NO: 11 is the fused fragment of Bacillus sp. NN018132.SEQ ID NO: 12 is the fused fragment of Bacillus borgouniensis.SEQ ID NO: 13 to SEQ ID NO: 49 are motif sequences.

Definitions

Protease activity: The term “protease activity” means a proteolyticactivity (EC 3.4.21.) that catalyzes the hydrolysis of amide bond or aprotein by hydrolysis of the peptide bond that link amin acids togetherin a polypeptide chain. Several assays for determining protease activityis available in the art. For purposes of the present invention, proteaseactivity may be determined using Protazyme AK tablet (cross-linked anddyed casein; from Megazyme) or in the Suc-AAPF-pNA assay as described inthe Example section of the present application.

The polypeptides of the present invention have at least 20%, e.g., atleast 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, atleast 90%, at least 95%, and at least 100% of the protease activity ofthe mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4.

Isolated polypeptide: The term “isolated polypeptide” means apolypeptide that is modified by the hand of man relative to thatpolypeptide as found in nature, whereby it has been completely orpartially separated from at least one other compound with which thepolypeptide is found in nature. In one aspect, the polypeptide is atleast 1% pure, e.g., at least 5% pure, at least 10% pure, at least 20%pure, at least 40% pure, at least 60% pure, at least 80% pure, and atleast 90% pure, as determined by SDS-PAGE.

Isolated: The term “isolated” means a substance in a form or environmentwhich does not occur in nature. Non-limiting examples of isolatedsubstances include (1) any non-naturally occurring substance, (2) anysubstance including, but not limited to, any enzyme, variant, nucleicacid, protein, peptide or cofactor, that is at least partially removedfrom one or more or all of the naturally occurring constituents withwhich it is associated in nature; (3) any substance modified by the handof man relative to that substance found in nature; or (4) any substancemodified by increasing the amount of the substance relative to othercomponents with which it is naturally associated (e.g., multiple copiesof a gene encoding the substance; use of a stronger promoter than thepromoter naturally associated with the gene encoding the substance)

Substantially pure polypeptide: The term “substantially purepolypeptide” means a preparation that contains at most 10%, at most 8%,at most 6%, at most 5%, at most 4%, at most 3%, at most 2%, at most 1%,and at most 0.5% by weight of other polypeptide material with which itis natively or recombinantly associated. Preferably, the polypeptide isat least 92% pure, e.g., at least 94% pure, at least 95% pure, at least96% pure, at least 97% pure, at least 98% pure, at least 99%, at least99.5% pure, and 100% pure by weight of the total polypeptide materialpresent in the preparation. The polypeptides of the present inventionare preferably in a substantially pure form. This can be accomplished,for example, by preparing the polypeptide by well known recombinantmethods or by classical purification methods.

Mature polypeptide: The term “mature polypeptide” means a polypeptide inits final form following translation and any post-translationalmodifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation,glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc. In one aspect, the maturepolypeptide is amino acids 1 to 275 of SEQ ID NO: 2. In another aspectthe mature polypeptide is amino acids 1 to 275 of SEQ ID NO: 4. Inanother aspect the mature polypeptide is amino acids 1 to 283 of SEQ IDNO: 6.

Propeptide: The term “propeptide” means a polypeptide that is translatedtogether with the mature polypeptide and are cleaved of before themature polypeptide is released and obtain protease activity. In oneaspect the propeptide is amino acids −143 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 2, −131 to−1 of SEQ ID NO: 4 or -128 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 6.

Signal peptide: The term “Signal peptide” means a short polypeptide thatis translated together with the mature polypeptide and the propeptide ispresent. The signal peptide is located in the N-terminus of thetranslated polypeptide and is responsible for the secretion of thepolypeptide. Usually, the signal peptide is removed during translocationof the polypeptide across a membrane, such as a plasma membrane or themembrane of the endoplasmatic reticulum.

Signal peptides are well known in the art and several methods forpredicting signal peptides have been developed, e.g., SignalP (Nielsenet al., 1997, Protein Engineering 10: 1-6), which predicts that aminoacids −169 to −144 of SEQ ID NO: 2, −160 to −132 of SEQ ID NO: 4 and-158 to −129 of SEQ ID NO: 6 are signal peptides.

Mature polypeptide coding sequence: The term “mature polypeptide codingsequence” means a polynucleotide that encodes a mature polypeptidehaving protease activity. In one aspect, the mature polypeptide codingsequence is nucleotides 711 to 1535 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 581 to 1405 of SEQID NO: 3 or 475 to 1323 of SEQ ID NO: 5.

Sequence Identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences orbetween two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter “sequenceidentity”.

For purposes of the present invention, the degree of sequence identitybetween two amino acid sequences is determined using theNeedleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol.48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package(EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice etal., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 3.0.0 orlater. The optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gapextension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62)substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity”(obtained using the −nobrief option) is used as the percent identity andis calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Number of Gaps inAlignment)

For purposes of the present invention, the degree of sequence identitybetween two deoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined using theNeedleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) asimplemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: TheEuropean Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000,supra), preferably version 3.0.0 or later. The optional parameters usedare gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and theEDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4) substitution matrix. The outputof Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the −nobriefoption) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Deoxyribonucleotides×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Numberof Gaps in Alignment)

Fragment: The term “fragment” means a polypeptide having one or more(several) amino acids deleted from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus ofa mature polypeptide; wherein the fragment has protease activity. In oneaspect, a fragment contains at least 200 amino acid residues (e.g.,amino acids 160 to 360 of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6), at least 230 amino acidresidues (e.g., amino acids 150 to 380 of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6), and atleast 260 amino acid residues (e.g., amino acids 150 to 410 of SEQ IDNO: 2, 4 or 6.

Subsequence: The term “subsequence” means a polynucleotide having one ormore (several) nucleotides deleted from the 5′ and/or 3′ end of a maturepolypeptide coding sequence; wherein the subsequence encodes a fragmenthaving protease activity. In one aspect, a subsequence contains at least600 nucleotides (e.g., nucleotides 759 to 1361 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5),e.g., at least 700 nucleotides (e.g., nucleotides 731 to 1431 of SEQ IDNO: 1, 3 or 5) and at least 780 nucleotides (e.g., nucleotides 731 to1514 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 3 or 5.

Allelic variant: The term “allelic variant” means any of two or morealternative forms of a gene occupying the same chromosomal locus.Allelic variation arises naturally through mutation, and may result inpolymorphism within populations. Gene mutations can be silent (no changein the encoded polypeptide) or may encode polypeptides having alteredamino acid sequences. An allelic variant of a polypeptide is apolypeptide encoded by an allelic variant of a gene.

Isolated polynucleotide: The term “isolated polynucleotide” means apolynucleotide that is modified by the hand of man relative to thatpolynucleotide as found in nature whereby it has been completely orpartially separated from at least one other compound with which thepolypeptide is found in nature. In one aspect, the isolatedpolynucleotide is at least 1% pure, e.g., at least 5% pure, more atleast 10% pure, at least 20% pure, at least 40% pure, at least 60% pure,at least 80% pure, at least 90% pure, and at least 95% pure, asdetermined by agarose electrophoresis. The polynucleotides may be ofgenomic, cDNA, RNA, semisynthetic, synthetic origin, or any combinationsthereof.

Substantially pure polynucleotide: The term “substantially purepolynucleotide” means a polynucleotide preparation free of otherextraneous or unwanted nucleotides and in a form suitable for use withingenetically engineered polypeptide production systems. Thus, asubstantially pure polynucleotide contains at most 10%, at most 8%, atmost 6%, at most 5%, at most 4%, at most 3%, at most 2%, at most 1%, andat most 0.5% by weight of other polynucleotide material with which it isnatively or recombinantly associated. A substantially purepolynucleotide may, however, include naturally occurring 5′ and 3′untranslated regions, such as promoters and terminators. Preferably, thepolynucleotide is at least 90% pure, e.g., at least 92% pure, at least94% pure, at least 95% pure, at least 96% pure, at least 97% pure, atleast 98% pure, at least 99% pure, and at least 99.5% pure by weight.The polynucleotides of the present invention are preferably in asubstantially pure form.

Coding sequence: The term “coding sequence” means a polynucleotide,which directly specifies the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide. Theboundaries of the coding sequence are generally determined by an openreading frame, which usually begins with the ATG start codon oralternative start codons such as GTG and TTG and ends with a stop codonsuch as TAA, TAG, and TGA. The coding sequence may be a DNA, cDNA,synthetic, or recombinant polynucleotide.

cDNA: The term “cDNA” means a DNA molecule that can be prepared byreverse transcription from a mature, spliced, mRNA molecule obtainedfrom a eukaryotic cell. cDNA lacks intron sequences that may be presentin the corresponding genomic DNA. The initial, primary RNA transcript isa precursor to mRNA that is processed through a series of steps,including splicing, before appearing as mature spliced mRNA.

Nucleic acid construct: The term “nucleic acid construct” means anucleic acid molecule, either single- or double-stranded, which isisolated from a naturally occurring gene or is modified to containsegments of nucleic acids in a manner that would not otherwise exist innature or which is synthetic. The term nucleic acid construct issynonymous with the term “expression cassette” when the nucleic acidconstruct contains the control sequences required for expression of acoding sequence of the present invention.

Control sequences: The term “control sequences” means all componentsnecessary for the expression of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptideof the present invention. Each control sequence may be native or foreignto the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide or native or foreign toeach other. Such control sequences include, but are not limited to, aleader, polyadenylation sequence, propeptide sequence, promoter, signalpeptide sequence, and transcription terminator. At a minimum, thecontrol sequences include a promoter, and transcriptional andtranslational stop signals. The control sequences may be provided withlinkers for the purpose of introducing specific restriction sitesfacilitating ligation of the control sequences with the coding region ofthe polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide.

Operably linked: The term “operably linked” means a configuration inwhich a control sequence is placed at an appropriate position relativeto the coding sequence of a polynucleotide such that the controlsequence directs the expression of the coding sequence.

Expression: The term “expression” includes any step involved in theproduction of the polypeptide including, but not limited to,transcription, post-transcriptional modification, translation,post-translational modification, and secretion.

Expression vector: The term “expression vector” means a linear orcircular DNA molecule that comprises a polynucleotide encoding apolypeptide and is operably linked to additional nucleotides thatprovide for its expression.

Host cell: The term “host cell” means any cell type that is susceptibleto transformation, transfection, transduction, and the like with anucleic acid construct or expression vector comprising a polynucleotideof the present invention. The term “host cell” encompasses any progenyof a parent cell that is not identical to the parent cell due tomutations that occur during replication.

Variant: The term “variant” means a polypeptide having protease activitycomprising an alteration, i.e., a substitution, insertion, and/ordeletion of one or more (several) amino acid residues at one or more(several) positions. A substitution means a replacement of an amino acidoccupying a position with a different amino acid; a deletion meansremoval of an amino acid occupying a position; and an insertion meansadding 1-3 amino acids adjacent to an amino acid occupying a position.

Low stringency conditions: The term “low stringency conditions” meansfor probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization andhybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml shearedand denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 25% formamide, following standardSouthern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material isfinally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at50° C.

Medium stringency conditions: The term “medium stringency conditions”means for probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridizationand hybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/mlsheared and denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 35% formamide, followingstandard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carriermaterial is finally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC,0.2% SDS at 55° C.

High stringency conditions: The term “high stringency conditions” meansfor probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, prehybridization andhybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml shearedand denatured salmon sperm DNA, and 50% formamide, following standardSouthern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hours. The carrier material isfinally washed three times each for 15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at65° C.

Cleaning compositions: The terms “cleaning compositions” and “cleaningformulations,” refer to compositions that find use in the removal ofundesired compounds from items to be cleaned, such as fabric, carpets,dishware including glassware, contact lenses, hard surfaces such astiles, zincs, floors, and table surfaces, hair (shampoos), skin (soapsand creams), teeth (mouthwashes, toothpastes), etc. The terms encompassany materials/compounds selected for the particular type of cleaningcomposition desired and the form of the product (e.g., liquid, gel,granule, or spray compositions), as long as the composition iscompatible with the metalloprotease and other enzyme(s) used in thecomposition. The specific selection of cleaning composition materials isreadily made by considering the surface, item or fabric to be cleaned,and the desired form of the composition for the cleaning conditionsduring use. These terms further refer to any composition that is suitedfor cleaning, bleaching, disinfecting, and/or sterilizing any objectand/or surface. It is intended that the terms include, but are notlimited to detergent composition (e.g., liquid and/or solid laundrydetergents and fine fabric detergents; hard surface cleaningformulations, such as for glass, wood, ceramic and metal counter topsand windows; carpet cleaners; oven cleaners; fabric fresheners; fabricsofteners; and textile and laundry pre-spotters, as well as dishdetergents).

Detergent composition: The term “detergent composition”, includes unlessotherwise indicated, granular or powder-form all-purpose or heavy-dutywashing agents, especially cleaning detergents; liquid, gel orpaste-form all-purpose washing agents, especially the so-calledheavy-duty liquid (HDL) types; liquid fine-fabric detergents; handdishwashing agents or light duty dishwashing agents, especially those ofthe high-foaming type; machine dishwashing agents, including the varioustablet, granular, liquid and rinse-aid types for household andinstitutional use; liquid cleaning and disinfecting agents, includingantibacterial hand-wash types, cleaning bars, mouthwashes, denturecleaners, car or carpet shampoos, bathroom cleaners; hair shampoos andhair-rinses; shower gels, foam baths; metal cleaners; as well ascleaning auxiliaries such as bleach additives and “stain-stick” orpre-treat types.

The terms “detergent composition” and “detergent formulation” are usedin reference to mixtures which are intended for use in a wash medium forthe cleaning of soiled objects. In some embodiments, the term is used inreference to laundering fabrics and/or garments (e.g., “laundrydetergents”). In alternative embodiments, the term refers to otherdetergents, such as those used to clean dishes, cutlery, etc. (e.g.,“dishwashing detergents”). It is not intended that the present inventionbe limited to any particular detergent formulation or composition. It isintended that in addition to the Thermolysin-Like Metalloproteaseaccording to the invention, the term encompasses detergents thatcontains, e.g., surfactants, builders, chelators or chelating agents,bleach system or bleach components, polymers, fabric conditioners, foamboosters, suds suppressors, dyes, perfume, tannish inhibitors, opticalbrighteners, bactericides, fungicides, soil suspending agents, anticorrosion agents, enzyme inhibitors or stabilizers, enzyme activators,transferase(s), hydrolytic enzymes, oxido reductases, bluing agents andfluorescent dyes, antioxidants, and solubilizers.

Fabric: The term, “fabric” encompasses any textile material. Thus, it isintended that the term encompass garments, as well as fabrics, yarns,fibers, non-woven materials, natural materials, synthetic materials, andany other textile material.

Textile: The term, “textile” refers to woven fabrics, as well as staplefibers and filaments suitable for conversion to or use as yarns, woven,knit, and non-woven fabrics. The term encompasses yarns made fromnatural, as well as synthetic (e.g., manufactured) fibers. The term,“textile materials” is a general term for fibers, yarn intermediates,yarn, fabrics, and products made from fabrics (e.g., garments and otherarticles).

Non-fabric detergent compositions: The term, “non-fabric detergentcompositions” include non-textile surface detergent compositions,including but not limited to dishwashing detergent compositions, oraldetergent compositions, denture detergent compositions, and personalcleansing compositions.

Effective amount of enzyme: The term, “effective amount of enzyme”refers to the quantity of enzyme necessary to achieve the enzymaticactivity required in the specific application, e.g., in a defineddetergent composition. Such effective amounts are readily ascertained byone of ordinary skill in the art and are based on many factors, such asthe particular enzyme used, the cleaning application, the specificcomposition of the detergent composition, and whether a liquid or dry(e.g., granular, bar) composition is required, and the like. The term“effective amount” of a metalloprotease refers to the quantity ofmetalloprotease described hereinbefore that achieves a desired level ofenzymatic activity, e.g., in a defined detergent composition.

Wash performance: The term, “wash performance” of an enzyme refers tothe contribution of an enzyme to washing that provides additionalcleaning performance to the detergent without the addition of the enzymeto the composition. Wash performance is compared under relevant washingconditions. Wash performance of enzymes is conveniently measured bytheir ability to remove certain representative stains under appropriatetest conditions. In these test systems, other relevant factors, such asdetergent composition, detergent concentration, water hardness, washingmechanics, time, pH, and/or temperature, can be controlled in such a waythat conditions typical for household application in a certain marketsegment are imitated.

Water hardness: The term “water hardness” or “degree of hardness” or“dH” or “° dH” as used herein refers to German degrees of hardness. Onedegree is defined as 10 milligrams of calcium oxide per litre of water.

Relevant washing conditions: The term “relevant washing conditions” isused herein to indicate the conditions, particularly washingtemperature, time, washing mechanics, detergent concentration, type ofdetergent and water hardness, actually used in households in a detergentmarket segment.

Improved property: The term “improved property” is used to indicate thata better end result is obtained in a property compared to the sameprocess performed without the enzyme. Exemplary properties which arepreferably improved in the processes of the present invention includewash performance, enzyme stability, enzyme activity and substratespecificity.

Improved wash performance: The term “improved wash performance” is usedto indicate that a better end result is obtained in stain removal fromitems washed (e.g., fabrics or dishware and/or cutlery) under relevantwashing conditions as compared to no enzyme or to a reference enzyme, orthat less enzyme, on weight basis, is needed to obtain the same endresult relative to no enzyme or to a reference enzyme. Improved washperformance could in this context also be that the same effect, e.g.,stain removal effect is obtained in shorter wash time, e.g., the enzymesprovide their effect more quickly under the tested conditions.

The term “retained wash performance” is used to indicate that the washperformance of an enzyme, on weight basis, is at least 80 percentrelative to another enzyme under relevant washing conditions.

Enzyme detergency: The term “enzyme detergency” or “detergency” or“detergency effect” is defined herein as the advantageous effect anenzyme may add to a detergent compared to the same detergent without theenzyme. Important detergency benefits which can be provided by enzymesare stain removal with no or very little visible soils after washingand/or cleaning, prevention or reduction of redeposition of soilsreleased in the washing process an effect that also is termedanti-redeposition, restoring fully or partly the whiteness of textiles,which originally were white but after repeated use and wash haveobtained a greyish or yellowish appearance an effect that also is termedwhitening. Textile care benefits, which are not directly related tocatalytic stain removal or prevention of redeposition of soils, are alsoimportant for enzyme detergency benefits. Examples of such textile carebenefits are prevention or reduction of dye transfer from one fabric toanother fabric or another part of the same fabric an effect that is alsotermed dye transfer inhibition or anti-back staining, removal ofprotruding or broken fibers from a fabric surface to decrease pillingtendencies or remove already existing pills or fuzz an effect that alsois termed anti-pilling, improvement of the fabric-softness, colourclarification of the fabric and removal of particulate soils which aretrapped in the fibers of the fabric or garment. Enzymatic bleaching is afurther enzyme detergency benefit where the catalytic activity generallyis used to catalyze the formation of bleaching component such ashydrogen peroxide or other peroxides.

Anti-redeposition: The term “anti-redeposition” as used herein describesthe reduction or prevention of redeposition of soils dissolved orsuspended in the wash liquor onto the cleaned objects. Redeposition maybe seen after one or multiple washing cycles (e.g., as a greying,yellowing or other discolorations).

Adjunct materials: The term “adjunct materials” means any liquid, solidor gaseous material selected for the particular type of detergentcomposition desired and the form of the product (e.g., liquid, granule,powder, bar, paste, spray, tablet, gel, or foam composition), whichmaterials are also preferably compatible with the metalloprotease enzymeused in the composition. In some embodiments, granular compositions arein “compact” form, while in other embodiments, the liquid compositionsare in a “concentrated” form.

Stain removing enzyme: The term “stain removing enzyme” as used herein,describes an enzyme that aids the removal of a stain or soil from afabric or a hard surface. Stain removing enzymes act on specificsubstrates, e.g., protease on protein, amylase on starch, lipase andcutinase on lipids (fats and oils), pectinase on pectin andhemicellulases on hemicellulose. Stains are often depositions of complexmixtures of different components which either results in a localdiscoloration of the material by itself or which leaves a sticky surfaceon the object which may attract soils dissolved in the washing liquorthereby resulting in discoloration of the stained area. When an enzymeacts on its specific substrate present in a stain the enzyme degrades orpartially degrades its substrate thereby aiding the removal of soils andstain components associated with the substrate during the washingprocess. For example, when a chlorophyllase acts on a grass stain itdegrades the chlorophyll components in the grass and allows thegreen/brown colour to be released during washing.

Reduced amount: The term “reduced amount” means in this context that theamount of the component is smaller than the amount which would be usedin a reference process under otherwise the same conditions. In apreferred embodiment the amount is reduced by, e.g., at least 5%, suchas at least 10%, at least 15%, at least 20% or as otherwise hereindescribed.

Low detergent concentration: The term “low detergent concentration”system includes detergents where less than about 800 ppm of detergentcomponents is present in the wash water. Asian, e.g., Japanesedetergents are typically considered low detergent concentration systems.

Medium detergent concentration: The term “medium detergentconcentration” system includes detergents wherein between about 800 ppmand about 2000 ppm of detergent components are present in the washwater. North American detergents are generally considered to be mediumdetergent concentration systems.

High detergent concentration: The term “high detergent concentration”system includes detergents wherein greater than about 2000 ppm ofdetergent components are present in the wash water. European detergentsare generally considered to be high detergent concentration systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Polypeptides Having ProteaseActivity

The present invention relates to polypeptides having protease activitycharacterized in that the protease has high detergency performance atlow temperatures and the stability is not affected by the presence of astrong chelator.

Thus, on aspect of the invention relates to isolated polypeptides havingprotease activity selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;

(b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, (ii) the cDNA sequence comprising the maturepolypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (iii) the full-lengthcomplementary strand of (i) or (ii);

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ IDNO: 1;

(d) a variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion ofone or more (several) amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 2; and

(e) a fragment of a polypeptide of (a), (b), (c), or (d) that hasprotease activity.

Another aspect of the invention relates to isolated polypeptides havingprotease activity selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4;

(b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, (ii) the cDNA sequence comprising the maturepolypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or (iii) the full-lengthcomplementary strand of (i) or (ii);

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ IDNO: 3;

(d) a variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion ofone or more (several) amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 4; and

(e) a fragment of a polypeptide of (a), (b), (c), or (d) that hasprotease activity.

The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptides comprising acatalytic domain selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a catalytic domain having at least 60% sequence identity to aminoacids 7 to 270 of SEQ ID NO: 2;

(b) a catalytic domain encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) nucleotides 729 to 1520 of SEQ IDNO: 1, (ii) the genomic DNA sequence comprising the catalytic domain ofSEQ ID NO: 1, or (iii) the full-length complementary strand of (i) or(ii);

(c) a catalytic domain encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the catalytic domain of SEQ ID NO: 1;

(d) a variant of a catalytic domain comprising a substitution, deletion,and/or insertion of one or more (several) amino acids of the catalyticdomain of SEQ ID NO: 2; and

(e) a fragment of a catalytic domain of (a), (b), (c) or (d) that hasprotease activity.

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides or catalyticdomains having a sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 2 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%,at least 64%, at least 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, atleast 69%, at least 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, atleast 74%, at least 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, atleast 79%, at least 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, atleast 84%, at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, atleast 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, atleast 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, atleast 99%, or 100%, which have protease activity. In one aspect, thepolypeptides differ by no more than ten amino acids, e.g., by five aminoacids, by four amino acids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids,and by one amino acid from the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having a sequenceidentity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 of at least 60%,e.g., at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, at least65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, at least70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, at least75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, at least80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, at least85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%,which have protease activity. In one aspect, the polypeptides differ byno more than ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, by four aminoacids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids, and by one amino acidfrom the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4.

A polypeptide of the present invention preferably comprises or consistsof the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an allelic variantthereof; or is a fragment thereof having protease activity. Apolypeptide of the present invention preferably comprises or consists ofthe amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 or an allelic variant thereof;or is a fragment thereof having protease activity. In another aspect,the polypeptide comprises or consists of the mature polypeptide of SEQID NO: 2. In another aspect, the polypeptide comprises or consists ofthe mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4. In another preferred aspect, thepolypeptide comprises or consists of amino acids 1 to 275 of SEQ ID NO:2. In another preferred aspect, the polypeptide comprises or consists ofamino acids 1 to 275 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

The proteases of the present invention share the motif His Gly Thr(Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Gly which is located in a regionwhere most other subtilisins have a high-affinity binding site for Ca2+.The loop of the subtilisins of the present invention are shorter thanfound in subtilisins with the high-affinity binding site for Ca2+,indicating that the site is not present here, see alignment below. Thisis also represented by the data showing that their performance is notaffected by chelators like EDTA, as demonstrated in Example 3, Table 6.This motif is also found in the protease from Paenibacillusdendritiformis (P. dendrite) with SEQ ID NO 6.

Motif region as found by ClustalW 1.83 alignment of 3 known subtilsinsand SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 and 6.

BPN′ (SEQ ID NO: 50) HGTHVAGTVAALNNSIGVL Alcalase (SEQ ID NO: 51)HGTHVAGTVAALDNTTGVL Savinase (SEQ ID NO: 52) HGTHVAGTIAALNNSIGVLSEQ ID NO: 2 HGTHVAGTIASYG---SVS SEQ ID NO: 4 HGTHVAGTIASYG---SVSSEQ ID NO: 6 HGTHVAGTIASYG---SVS

Thus, in one embodiment the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides comprising the motif His Gly Thr (Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly SerVal Ser Gly (SEQ ID NO: 13) and having a sequence identity to the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 40%, e.g., at least 50%, atleast 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, atleast 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, atleast 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, atleast 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, atleast 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, atleast 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, atleast 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or100%, which have protease activity.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides comprising the motif His Gly Thr (Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly SerVal Ser Gly (SEQ ID NO: 13) and having a sequence identity to the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 of at least 40%, e.g., at least 50%, atleast 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, atleast 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, atleast 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, atleast 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, atleast 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, atleast 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, atleast 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or100%, which have protease activity.

Thus, in one embodiment the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides comprising the motif His Gly Thr (Xaa)6 Ala Ser Tyr Gly SerVal Ser Gly (SEQ ID NO: 13) and having a sequence identity to the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 of at least 40%, e.g., at least 50%, atleast 60%, at least 61%, at least 62%, at least 63%, at least 64%, atleast 65%, at least 66%, at least 67%, at least 68%, at least 69%, atleast 70%, at least 71%, at least 72%, at least 73%, at least 74%, atleast 75%, at least 76%, at least 77%, at least 78%, at least 79%, atleast 80%, at least 81%, at least 82%, at least 83%, at least 84%, atleast 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, atleast 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or100%, which have protease activity.

One aspect of the invention concerns isolated polypeptides comprisingthe motif His Gly Thr (Xaa)6 Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Gly (SEQ ID NO:13) and having a sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 2, 4 and 6 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, atleast 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, atleast 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%, which haveprotease activity.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to isolatedpolypeptides having protease activity, comprising the following motif:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) His Gly Thr (Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Glywherein Xaa is any natural amino acid and (Xaa)₆ mean 6 consecutiveamino acids, where each amino acid may be any natural amino acid, or thecorresponding motif comprising one or two substitutions among the last 8amino acids in the motif. In particular, the present invention relatesto isolated polypeptides having proteas activity, comprising a motifselected among:

(SEQ ID NO: 14) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Xaa Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 15) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Ser Xaa Gly Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 16) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Ser Tyr Xaa Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 17) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Ser Tyr Gly Xaa Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 18) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Ser Tyr Gly Ser Xaa Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 19) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Xaa Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 20) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Xaa;(SEQ ID NO: 21) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Xaa Xaa Gly Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 22) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Xaa Tyr Xaa Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 23) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Xaa Tyr Gly Xaa Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 24) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Xaa Tyr Gly Ser Xaa Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 25) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Xaa Tyr Gly Ser Val Xaa Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 26) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Xaa Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Xaa;(SEQ ID NO: 27) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Xaa Xaa Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 28) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Xaa Gly Xaa Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 29) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Xaa Gly Ser Xaa Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 30) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Xaa Gly Ser Val Xaa Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 31) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Xaa Gly Ser Val Ser Xaa;(SEQ ID NO: 32) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Xaa Xaa Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 33) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Xaa Ser Xaa Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 34) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Xaa Ser Val Xaa Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 35) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Xaa Ser Val Ser Xaa;(SEQ ID NO: 36) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Xaa Xaa Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 37) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Xaa Val Xaa Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 38) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Xaa Val Ser Xaa;(SEQ ID NO: 39) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Xaa Xaa Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 40) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Xaa Ser Xaa;(SEQ ID NO: 41) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Xaa Xaa;(SEQ ID NO: 42) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Xaa Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 43) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Xaa Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 44) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Xaa Gly Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 45) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Xaa Ser Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 46) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Xaa Val Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 47) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Xaa Ser Gly;(SEQ ID NO: 48) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Xaa Gly; or(SEQ ID NO: 49) His Gly Thr-(Xaa)₆-Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Xaa.

Preferably, isolated polypeptides having protease activity according tothe invention are selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, or 100%, to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;

(b) a polypeptide comprising a catalytic domain having at least 60%sequence identity, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, atleast 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, atleast 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%, to the amino acids 7-270of SEQ ID NO: 2

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, (ii) the cDNA sequence comprising the maturepolypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or (iii) the full-lengthcomplementary strand of (i) or (ii);

(d) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ IDNO: 1;

(e) a variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion ofone or more (several) amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 2; and

(f) a fragment of a polypeptide of (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) that hasprotease activity;

wherein the isolated polypeptide having protease activity, comprisingthe following motif:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) His Gly Thr (Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Glywherein Xaa is any natural amino acid and (Xaa)₆ mean 6 consecutiveamino acids, where each amino acid may be any natural amino acid, or thecorresponding motif comprising one or two substitutions among the last 8amino acids in the motif.

In another preferably embodiment the isolated polypeptides havingprotease activity according to the invention are selected from the groupconsisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, or 100%, to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4;

(b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, (ii) the cDNA sequence comprising the maturepolypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, or (iii) the full-lengthcomplementary strand of (i) or (ii);

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ IDNO: 3;

(d) a variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion ofone or more (several) amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 4; and

(e) a fragment of a polypeptide of (a), (b), (c) or (d) that hasprotease activity;

wherein the isolated polypeptide having protease activity, comprisingthe following motif:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) His Gly Thr (Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Glywherein Xaa is any natural amino acid and (Xaa)₆ mean 6 consecutiveamino acids, where each amino acid may be any natural amino acid, or thecorresponding motif comprising one or two substitutions among the last 8amino acids in the motif.

In yet another preferably embodiment the isolated polypeptides havingprotease activity according to the invention are selected from the groupconsisting of:

(a) a polypeptide having at least 60% sequence identity, e.g., at least65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, or 100%, to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6;

(b) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, (ii) the cDNA sequence comprising the maturepolypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5, or (iii) the full-lengthcomplementary strand of (i) or (ii);

(c) a polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ IDNO: 5;

(d) a variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion ofone or more (several) amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ IDNO: 6; and

(e) a fragment of a polypeptide of (a), (b), (c) or (d) that hasprotease activity;

wherein the isolated polypeptide having protease activity, comprisingthe following motif:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) His Gly Thr (Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Glywherein Xaa is any natural amino acid and (Xaa)₆ mean 6 consecutiveamino acids, where each amino acid may be any natural amino acid, or thecorresponding motif comprising one or two substitutions among the last 8amino acids in the motif.

The polypeptides of the present invention sharing the motif His Gly Thr(Xaa)₆ Ala Ser Tyr Gly Ser Val Ser Gly (SEQ ID NO: 13) or any of themotif with SEQ ID NO: 14 to SEQ ID NO: 49 may have the advantage ofbeing stably in the presence of a strong chelator such as EDTA. Thus thestability in the presence of a strong chelator is preferably at least50% of the stability under same conditions but without chelator, morepreferred at least 60%, more preferred at least 70% more preferred atleast 80% more preferred at least 90% even more preferred at least 95%and most preferred at least 97%.

This may be determined by assaying the stability of a polypeptide of theinvention in the presence of 1 mM EDTA and in the presence of 1 mM CaCl₂but without EDTA, and comparing the stability with and without EDTA. Bythis assay it is apparent that the stability of the polypeptides in thepresence or in the absence of EDTA is almost identical. This is incomplete contrast to prior art commercially available proteases such as,e.g., Savinase (alkaline protease derived from Bacillus lentus andavailable from Novozymes A/S, Copenhagen Denmark), where the stabilityis significantly lower in the presence of EDTA compared with thestabuility under same conditions but in the absence of EDTA.

The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptides havingprotease activity that are encoded by polynucleotides that hybridizeunder very low stringency conditions, low stringency conditions, mediumstringency conditions, medium-high stringency conditions, highstringency conditions, or very high stringency conditions with (i) themature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3, (ii) thegenomic DNA sequence encoding the mature polypeptide coding sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 1, or (iii) the full-length complementary strand of (i) or(ii) (J. Sambrook, E. F. Fritsch, and T. Maniatis, 1989, MolecularCloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2d edition, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.).

The polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 or a subsequence thereof, aswell as the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 or a fragmentthereof, may be used to design nucleic acid probes to identify and cloneDNA encoding polypeptides having protease activity from strains ofdifferent genera or species according to methods well known in the art.In particular, such probes can be used for hybridization with thegenomic or cDNA of the genus or species of interest, following standardSouthern blotting procedures, in order to identify and isolate thecorresponding gene therein. Such probes can be considerably shorter thanthe entire sequence, but should be at least 14, e.g., at least 25, atleast 35, or at least 70 nucleotides in length. Preferably, the nucleicacid probe is at least 100 nucleotides in length, e.g., at least 200nucleotides, at least 300 nucleotides, at least 400 nucleotides, atleast 500 nucleotides, at least 600 nucleotides, at least 700nucleotides, at least 800 nucleotides, or at least 900 nucleotides inlength. Both DNA and RNA probes can be used. The probes are typicallylabeled for detecting the corresponding gene (for example, with ³²P, ³H,³⁵S, biotin, or avidin). Such probes are encompassed by the presentinvention.

A genomic DNA or cDNA library prepared from such other strains may bescreened for DNA that hybridizes with the probes described above andencodes a polypeptide having protease activity. Genomic or other DNAfrom such other strains may be separated by agarose or polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis, or other separation techniques. DNA from thelibraries or the separated DNA may be transferred to and immobilized onnitrocellulose or other suitable carrier material. In order to identifya clone or DNA that is homologous with SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3 or asubsequence thereof, the carrier material is preferably used in aSouthern blot.

For purposes of the present invention, hybridization indicates that thepolynucleotide hybridizes to a labeled nucleic acid probe correspondingto the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; thegenomic DNA sequence comprising the mature polypeptide coding sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3; its full-length complementary strand; or asubsequence thereof; under very low to very high stringency conditions.Molecules to which the nucleic acid probe hybridizes under theseconditions can be detected using, for example, X-ray film.

In one aspect, the nucleic acid probe is the mature polypeptide codingsequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In another aspect, the nucleic acid probe isnucleotides 711 to 1535 of SEQ ID NO: 1, In one aspect, the nucleic acidprobe is the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. Inanother aspect, the nucleic acid probe is nucleotides 581 to 1405 of SEQID NO: 3. In another aspect, the nucleic acid probe is a polynucleotidethat encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 or 4 or a fragment thereof.In another preferred aspect, the nucleic acid probe is SEQ ID NO: 1 or3.

For long probes of at least 100 nucleotides in length, very low to veryhigh stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization andhybridization at 42° C. in 5×SSPE, 0.3% SDS, 200 micrograms/ml shearedand denatured salmon sperm DNA, and either 25% formamide for very lowand low stringencies, 35% formamide for medium and medium-highstringencies, or 50% formamide for high and very high stringencies,following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hoursoptimally. The carrier material is finally washed three times each for15 minutes using 2×SSC, 0.2% SDS at 45° C. (very low stringency), at 50°C. (low stringency), at 55° C. (medium stringency), at 60° C.(medium-high stringency), at 65° C. (high stringency), and at 70° C.(very high stringency).

For short probes of about 15 nucleotides to about 70 nucleotides inlength, stringency conditions are defined as prehybridization andhybridization at about 5° C. to about 10° C. below the calculated T_(m)using the calculation according to Bolton and McCarthy (1962, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:1390) in 0.9 M NaCl, 0.09 M Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 6mM EDTA, 0.5% NP-40, 1×Denhardt's solution, 1 mM sodium pyrophosphate, 1mM sodium monobasic phosphate, 0.1 mM ATP, and 0.2 mg of yeast RNA perml following standard Southern blotting procedures for 12 to 24 hoursoptimally. The carrier material is finally washed once in 6×SCC plus0.1% SDS for 15 minutes and twice each for 15 minutes using 6×SSC at 5°C. to 10° C. below the calculated T_(m).

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having proteaseactivity encoded by polynucleotides having a sequence identity to themature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least 60%,e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100%.

The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptides havingprotease activity encoded by polynucleotides having a sequence identityto the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 of at least60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, atleast 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or 100%.

The present invention also relates to variants comprising asubstitution, deletion, and/or insertion of one or more (or several)amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6, or ahomologous sequence thereof. Preferably, amino acid changes are of aminor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions orinsertions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activityof the protein; small deletions, typically of one to about 30 aminoacids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as anamino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to about20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification bychanging net charge or another function, such as a poly-histidine tract,an antigenic epitope or a binding domain. Preferably the variant has atleast 60% sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2;e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, but less than 100% identity to the mature polypeptideof SEQ ID NO: 2.

In another preferred embodiment the variant has at least 60% sequenceidentity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4; e.g., at least 65%,at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, butless than 100% identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4.

In yet another preferred embodiment the variant has at least 60%sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6; e.g., atleast 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, atleast 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, atleast 99%, but less than 100% identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQID NO: 6.

Examples of conservative substitutions are within the group of basicamino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids(glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine andasparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine),aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and smallamino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine). Aminoacid substitutions that do not generally alter specific activity areknown in the art and are described, for example, by H. Neurath and R. L.Hill, 1979, In, The Proteins, Academic Press, New York. The mostcommonly occurring exchanges are Ala/Ser, Val/Ile, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser,Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg,Asp/Asn, Leu/Ile, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly.

Alternatively, the amino acid changes are of such a nature that thephysico-chemical properties of the polypeptides are altered. Forexample, amino acid changes may improve the thermal stability of thepolypeptide, alter the substrate specificity, change the pH optimum, andthe like.

Essential amino acids in a parent polypeptide can be identifiedaccording to procedures known in the art, such as site-directedmutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, 1989,Science 244: 1081-1085). In the latter technique, single alaninemutations are introduced at every residue in the molecule, and theresultant mutant molecules are tested for protease activity to identifyamino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule.See also, Hilton et al., 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271: 4699-4708. The activesite of the enzyme or other biological interaction can also bedetermined by physical analysis of structure, as determined by suchtechniques as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electrondiffraction, or photoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation ofputative contact site amino acids. See, for example, de Vos et al.,1992, Science 255: 306-312; Smith et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 224:899-904; Wlodaver et al., 1992, FEBS Lett. 309: 59-64. The identities ofessential amino acids can also be inferred from analysis of identitieswith polypeptides that are related to the parent polypeptide.

The amino acids Asp 176, His 209 and Ser 359 form the catalytic triadeof the prosease having SEQ ID NO: 2 and are therefore critical foractivity of the molecule and should not be modified. Thus, amino acidresidues corresponding to Asp 176, His 209 and Ser 359 in SEQ ID NO: 2should not be modified in the variants of the invention.

The amino acids Asp 33, His 66 and Ser 216 form the catalytic triade ofthe prosease having SEQ ID NO: 4 and are therefore critical for activityof the molecule and should not be modified. Thus, amino acid residuescorresponding to Asp 33, His 66 and Ser 216 in SEQ ID NO: 2 should notbe modified in the variants of the invention.

The amino acids Asp 34, His 67 and Ser 217 form the catalytic triade ofthe prosease having SEQ ID NO: 6 and are therefore critical for activityof the molecule and should not be modified. Thus, amino acid residuescorresponding to Asp 34, His 67 and Ser 217 in SEQ ID NO: 2 should notbe modified in the variants of the invention.

The catalytic residues have been determined by alignment with known S8serine protease where it has been found that the catalytic residues areconserved in all such poroteases.

Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/orinsertions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis,recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a relevant screeningprocedure, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988,Science 241: 53-57; Bowie and Sauer, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413; or WO 95/22625. Other methods that can beused include error-prone PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991,Biochemistry 30: 10832-10837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204), andregion-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986, Gene 46: 145; Neret al., 1988, DNA 7: 127).

Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with high-throughput,automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenizedpolypeptides expressed by host cells (Ness et al., 1999, NatureBiotechnology 17: 893-896). Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode activepolypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequencedusing standard methods in the art. These methods allow the rapiddetermination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in apolypeptide.

The total number of amino acid substitutions, deletions and/orinsertions of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2, 4 or 6 are notmore than 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9.

The polypeptide may be hybrid polypeptide in which a portion of onepolypeptide is fused at the N-terminus or the C-terminus of a portion ofanother polypeptide.

The polypeptide may be a fused polypeptide or cleavable fusionpolypeptide in which another polypeptide is fused at the N-terminus orthe C-terminus of the polypeptide of the present invention. A fusedpolypeptide is produced by fusing a polynucleotide encoding anotherpolypeptide to a polynucleotide of the present invention. Techniques forproducing fusion polypeptides are known in the art, and include ligatingthe coding sequences encoding the polypeptides so that they are in frameand that expression of the fused polypeptide is under control of thesame promoter(s) and terminator. Fusion proteins may also be constructedusing intein technology in which fusions are createdpost-translationally (Cooper et al., 1993, EMBO J. 12: 2575-2583; Dawsonet al., 1994, Science 266: 776-779).

A fusion polypeptide can further comprise a cleavage site between thetwo polypeptides. Upon secretion of the fusion protein, the site iscleaved releasing the two polypeptides. Examples of cleavage sitesinclude, but are not limited to, the sites disclosed in Martin et al.,2003, J. Ind. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 3: 568-576; Svetina et al., 2000,J. Biotechnol. 76: 245-251; Rasmussen-Wilson et al., 1997, Appl.Environ. Microbiol. 63: 3488-3493; Ward et al., 1995, Biotechnology 13:498-503; and Contreras et al., 1991, Biotechnology 9: 378-381; Eaton etal., 1986, Biochemistry 25: 505-512; Collins-Racie et al., 1995,Biotechnology 13: 982-987; Carter et al., 1989, Proteins: Structure,Function, and Genetics 6: 240-248; and Stevens, 2003, Drug DiscoveryWorld 4: 35-48.

Sources of Polypeptides Having Protease Activity

A polypeptide having protease activity of the present invention may beobtained from microorganisms of any genus. For purposes of the presentinvention, the term “obtained from” as used herein in connection with agiven source shall mean that the polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotideis produced by the source or by a strain in which the polynucleotidefrom the source has been inserted. In one aspect, the polypeptideobtained from a given source is secreted extracellularly.

The polypeptide may be a bacterial polypeptide. For example, thepolypeptide may be a gram-positive bacterial polypeptide such as aBacillus, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Geobacillus, Lactobacillus,Lactococcus, Oceanobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, orStreptomyces polypeptide having protease activity, or a gram-negativebacterial polypeptide such as a Campylobacter, E. coli, Flavobacterium,Fusobacterium, Helicobacter, Ilyobacter, Neisseria, Pseudomonas,Salmonella, or Ureaplasma polypeptide.

In one aspect, the polypeptide is a Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillusamyloliquefaciens, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillusclausii, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus firmus, Bacillus lautus, Bacilluslentus, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus,Bacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, or Bacillusthuringiensis polypeptide.

In another aspect, the polypeptide is a Streptococcus equisimilis,Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus uberis, or Streptococcus equisubsp. Zooepidemicus polypeptide.

In another aspect, the polypeptide is a Streptomyces achromogenes,Streptomyces avermitilis, Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces griseus,or Streptomyces lividans polypeptide.

The polypeptide may also be a fungal polypeptide. For example, thepolypeptide may be a yeast polypeptide such as a Candida, Kluyveromyces,Pichia, Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, or Yarrowia polypeptide; ora filamentous fungal polypeptide such as an Acremonium, Agaricus,Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Botryosphaeria, Ceriporiopsis,Chaetomidium, Chrysosporium, Claviceps, Cochliobolus, Coprinopsis,Coptotermes, Corynascus, Cryphonectria, Cryptococcus, Diplodia, Exidia,Filibasidium, Fusarium, Gibberella, Holomastigotoides, Humicola, Irpex,Lentinula, Leptospaeria, Magnaporthe, Melanocarpus, Meripilus, Mucor,Myceliophthora, Neocallimastix, Neurospora, Paecilomyces, Penicillium,Phanerochaete, Piromyces, Poitrasia, Pseudoplectania,Pseudotrichonympha, Rhizomucor, Schizophyllum, Scytalidium, Talaromyces,Thermoascus, Thielavia, Tolypocladium, Trichoderma, Trichophaea,Verticillium, Volvariella, or Xylaria polypeptide.

In another aspect, the polypeptide is a Saccharomyces carlsbergensis,Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus, Saccharomycesdouglasii, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensis, orSaccharomyces oviformis polypeptide.

In another aspect, the polypeptide is an Acremonium cellulolyticus,Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus foetidus,Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus nidulans,Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Chrysosporium inops,Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporium lucknowense, Chrysosporiummerdarium, Chrysosporium pannicola, Chrysosporium queenslandicum,Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporium zonatum, Fusarium bactridioides,Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusariumgraminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusarium heterosporum, Fusarium negundi,Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium reticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusariumsambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum, Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusariumsulphureum, Fusarium torulosum, Fusarium trichothecioides, Fusariumvenenatum, Humicola grisea, Humicola insolens, Humicola lanuginosa,Irpex lacteus, Mucor miehei, Myceliophthora thermophila, Neurosporacrassa, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium purpurogenum, Phanerochaetechrysosporium, Thielavia achromatica, Thielavia albomyces, Thielaviaalbopilosa, Thielavia australeinsis, Thielavia fimeti, Thielaviamicrospora, Thielavia ovispora, Thielavia peruviana, Thielavia setosa,Thielavia spededonium, Thielavia subthermophila, Thielavia terrestris,Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichodermalongibrachiatum, Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride polypeptide.

In one aspect, the polypeptide is a protease from Bacillus sp. Inanother aspect of the invention the polypeptide is a protease fromBacillus borgouniensis.

It will be understood that for the aforementioned species the inventionencompasses both the perfect and imperfect states, and other taxonomicequivalents, e.g., anamorphs, regardless of the species name by whichthey are known. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize theidentity of appropriate equivalents.

Strains of these species are readily accessible to the public in anumber of culture collections, such as the American Type CultureCollection (ATCC), Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen andZellkulturen GmbH (DSM), Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures (CBS), andAgricultural Research Service Patent Culture Collection, NorthernRegional Research Center (NRRL).

The polypeptide may be identified and obtained from other sourcesincluding microorganisms isolated from nature (e.g., soil, composts,water, etc.) using the above-mentioned probes. Techniques for isolatingmicroorganisms from natural habitats are well known in the art. Thepolynucleotide encoding the polypeptide may then be obtained bysimilarly screening a genomic or cDNA library of another microorganismor mixed DNA sample. Once a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide hasbeen detected with the probe(s), the polynucleotide can be isolated orcloned by utilizing techniques that are well known to those of ordinaryskill in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

Propeptide

The present invention also relates to isolated polypeptides comprising apropeptide binding domain operably linked to a catalytic domain, whereinthe propeptide is selected from the group consisting of:

(a) a propeptide having at least 60% sequence identity to amino acids−143 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 2, −131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 4 or -128 to −1 ofSEQ ID NO:6;

(b) a propeptide encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undermedium stringency conditions with (i) nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ IDNO: 1 or nucleotides 188 to 580 of SEQ ID NO: 3, (ii) the genomic DNAsequence comprising nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ ID NO: 1 ornucleotides 188 to 580 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or (iii) the full-lengthcomplementary strand of (i) or (ii);

(c) a propeptide encoded by a polynucleotide having at least 60%sequence identity to nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ ID NO: 1 ornucleotides 188 to 580 of SEQ ID NO: 3; and

(d) a variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion ofone or more (several) amino acids of amino acids −143 to −1 of SEQ IDNO: 2, −131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 4 or −128 to −1 of SEQ ID NO:6.

The propeptide preferably has a degree of sequence identity to aminoacids −143 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, atleast 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, and at least 99%.In an aspect, the propeptide comprises an amino acid sequence thatdiffers by ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, by four aminoacids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids, and by one amino acidfrom amino acids 1 to 143 of SEQ ID NO: 2.

The propeptide preferably has a degree of sequence identity to aminoacids −131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 4 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, atleast 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, and at least 99%.In an aspect, the propeptide comprises an amino acid sequence thatdiffers by ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, by four aminoacids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids, and by one amino acidfrom amino acids −131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

The propeptide preferably comprises or consists of amino acids −143 to−1 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or an allelic variant thereof.

The propeptide preferably comprises or consists of amino acids −131 to−1 of SEQ ID NO: 4 or an allelic variant thereof.

The propeptide may be encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes undervery low stringency conditions, low stringency conditions, mediumstringency conditions, medium-high stringency conditions, highstringency conditions, and very high stringency conditions (as definedabove) with (i) the nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ ID NO: 1 ornucleotides 188 to 580 of SEQ ID NO: 3, (ii) the genomic DNA sequencecomprising nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ ID NO: 1, nucleotides 188 to580 of SEQ ID NO: 3 or (iii) the full-length complementary strand of (i)or (ii) (J. Sambrook et al., 1989, supra).

The propeptide may be encoded by a polynucleotide having a degree ofsequence identity to nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, atleast 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, and at least 99%.

The propeptide may be encoded by a polynucleotide having a degree ofsequence identity to nucleotides 188 to 580 of SEQ ID NO: 3 of at least60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, atleast 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, and at least 99%.

In another aspect, the polynucleotide encoding the propeptide comprisesor consists of nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the polynucleotide encoding the propeptide comprisesor consists of nucleotides 188 to 580 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

The propeptide may be a variant comprising a substitution, deletion,and/or insertion of one or more (or several) amino acids of amino acids−143 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 2. The total number of amino acidsubstitutions, deletions and/or insertions of amino acids −143 to −1 ofSEQ ID NO: 2 is 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9.

The propeptide may be a variant comprising a substitution, deletion,and/or insertion of one or more (or several) amino acids of amino acids−131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 4. The total number of amino acidsubstitutions, deletions and/or insertions of amino acids −131 to −1 ofSEQ ID NO: 4 is 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9.

The propeptide may be a variant comprising a substitution, deletion,and/or insertion of one or more (or several) amino acids of amino acids−128 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 6. The total number of amino acidsubstitutions, deletions and/or insertions of amino acids −128 to −1 ofSEQ ID NO: 6 is 10, e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9.

The catalytic domain may be obtained from an oxidoreductase,transferase, hydrolase, lyase, isomerase, or ligase, e.g., anaminopeptidase, amylase, carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase,cellulase, chitinase, cutinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase,deoxyribonuclease, esterase, alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase,glucoamylase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, invertase, laccase,another lipase, mannosidase, mutanase, oxidase, pectinolytic enzyme,peroxidase, phytase, polyphenoloxidase, proteolytic enzyme,ribonuclease, transglutaminase or xylanase. Preferably the catalyticdomain is obtained from a protease, preferably a serine protease, morepreferred a subtilisin or a S8-serin protease.

The polynucleotide encoding the catalytic domain may be obtained fromany prokaryotic, eukaryotic, or other source.

Polynucleotides

The present invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides encode apolypeptide of the present invention.

The techniques used to isolate or clone a polynucleotide encoding apolypeptide are known in the art and include isolation from genomic DNA,preparation from cDNA, or a combination thereof. The cloning of thepolynucleotides from such genomic DNA can be effected, e.g., by usingthe well-known polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antibody screening ofexpression libraries to detect cloned DNA fragments with sharedstructural features. See, e.g., Innis et al., 1990, PCR: A Guide toMethods and Application, Academic Press, New York. Other nucleic acidamplification procedures such as ligase chain reaction (LCR), ligationactivated transcription (LAT) and polynucleotide-based amplification(NASBA) may be used. The polynucleotides may be cloned from a strain ofBacillus, or another or related organism and thus, for example, may bean allelic or species variant of the polypeptide encoding region of thepolynucleotide.

The present invention relates to isolated polynucleotides comprising orconsisting of polynucleotides having a degree of sequence identity tothe mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 of at least 60%,e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least98%, at least 99%, or 100%, which encode a polypeptide having proteaseactivity. The present invention also relates to isolated polynucleotidescomprising or consisting of polynucleotides having a degree of sequenceidentity to the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 of atleast 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%,at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, atleast 98%, at least 99%, or 100%, which encode a polypeptide havingprotease activity.

Modification of a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the presentinvention may be necessary for the synthesis of polypeptidessubstantially similar to the polypeptide. The term “substantiallysimilar” to the polypeptide refers to non-naturally occurring forms ofthe polypeptide. These polypeptides may differ in some engineered wayfrom the polypeptide isolated from its native source, e.g., variantsthat differ in specific activity, thermostability, pH optimum, or thelike. The variant may be constructed on the basis of the polynucleotidepresented as the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 3e.g., a subsequence thereof, and/or by introduction of nucleotidesubstitutions that do not result in a change in the amino acid sequenceof the polypeptide, but which correspond to the codon usage of the hostorganism intended for production of the enzyme, or by introduction ofnucleotide substitutions that may give rise to a different amino acidsequence. For a general description of nucleotide substitution, see,e.g., Ford et al., 1991, Protein Expression and Purification 2: 95-107.

The present invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides encodingpolypeptides of the present invention, which hybridize under very lowstringency conditions, low stringency conditions, medium stringencyconditions, medium-high stringency conditions, high stringencyconditions, or very high stringency conditions with (i) the maturepolypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, (ii) the genomic DNAsequence comprising the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, or (iii) the full-length complementary strand of (i) or (ii); orallelic variants and subsequences thereof (Sambrook et al., 1989,supra), as defined herein.

The present invention also relates to isolated polynucleotides encodingpolypeptides of the present invention, which hybridize under very lowstringency conditions, low stringency conditions, medium stringencyconditions, medium-high stringency conditions, high stringencyconditions, or very high stringency conditions with (i) the maturepolypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, (ii) the genomic DNAsequence comprising the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or (iii) the full-length complementary strand of (i) or (ii); orallelic variants and subsequences thereof (Sambrook et al., 1989,supra), as defined herein.

In one aspect, the polynucleotide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 1,the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or a subsequenceof SEQ ID NO: 1 that encode a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 having proteaseactivity, such as the polynucleotide of nucleotides 711 to 1535 of SEQID NO: 1.

In one aspect, the polynucleotide comprises or consists of SEQ ID NO: 3,the mature polypeptide coding sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 or a subsequenceof SEQ ID NO: 3 that encode a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 4 having proteaseactivity, such as the polynucleotide of nucleotides 581 to 1405 of SEQID NO: 3.

In another aspect, the polynucleotide comprises or consists of thecatalytic domain of nucleotides 729 to 1520 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the polynucleotide comprises or consists of thepropeptide of nucleotides 282 to 710 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In another aspect, the polynucleotide comprises or consists of thepropeptide of nucleotides 188 to 580 of SEQ ID NO: 3.

Nucleic Acid Constructs

The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs comprisinga polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to one or more(several) control sequences that direct the expression of the codingsequence in a suitable host cell under conditions compatible with thecontrol sequences.

A polynucleotide may be manipulated in a variety of ways to provide forexpression of the polypeptide. Manipulation of the polynucleotide priorto its insertion into a vector may be desirable or necessary dependingon the expression vector. The techniques for modifying polynucleotidesutilizing recombinant DNA methods are well known in the art.

The control sequence may be a promoter sequence, a polynucleotide thatis recognized by a host cell for expression of a polynucleotide encodinga polypeptide of the present invention. The promoter sequence containstranscriptional control sequences that mediate the expression of thepolypeptide. The promoter may be any polynucleotide that showstranscriptional activity in the host cell of choice including mutant,truncated, and hybrid promoters, and may be obtained from genes encodingextracellular or intracellular polypeptides either homologous orheterologous to the host cell.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing the transcription of thenucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a bacterial hostcell are the promoters obtained from the Bacillus amyloliquefaciensalpha-amylase gene (amyQ), Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene(amyL), Bacillus licheniformis penicillinase gene (penP), Bacillusstearothermophilus maltogenic amylase gene (amyM), Bacillus subtilislevansucrase gene (sacB), Bacillus subtilis xylA and xylB genes, E. colilac operon, Streptomyces coelicolor agarase gene (dagA), and prokaryoticbeta-lactamase gene (Villa-Kamaroff et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 75: 3727-3731), as well as the tac promoter (DeBoer et al., 1983,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80: 21-25). Further promoters are describedin “Useful proteins from recombinant bacteria” in Gilbert et al., 1980,Scientific American, 242: 74-94; and in Sambrook et al., 1989, supra.

Examples of suitable promoters for directing the transcription of thenucleic acid constructs of the present invention in a filamentous fungalhost cell are promoters obtained from the genes for Aspergillus nidulansacetamidase, Aspergillus niger neutral alpha-amylase, Aspergillus nigeracid stable alpha-amylase, Aspergillus niger or Aspergillus awamoriglucoamylase (glaA), Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Aspergillus oryzaealkaline protease, Aspergillus oryzae triose phosphate isomerase,Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease (WO 96/00787), Fusariumvenenatum amyloglucosidase (WO 00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Dania (WO00/56900), Fusarium venenatum Quinn (WO 00/56900), Rhizomucor mieheilipase, Rhizomucor miehei aspartic proteinase, Trichoderma reeseibeta-glucosidase, Trichoderma reesei cellobiohydrolase I, Trichodermareesei cellobiohydrolase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase I,Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase II, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanaseIII, Trichoderma reesei endoglucanase IV, Trichoderma reeseiendoglucanase V, Trichoderma reesei xylanase I, Trichoderma reeseixylanase II, Trichoderma reesei beta-xylosidase, as well as the NA2-tpipromoter (a modified promoter including a gene encoding a neutralalpha-amylase in Aspergilli in which the untranslated leader has beenreplaced by an untranslated leader from a gene encoding triose phosphateisomerase in Aspergilli; non-limiting examples include modifiedpromoters including the gene encoding neutral alpha-amylase inAspergillus niger in which the untranslated leader has been replaced byan untranslated leader from the gene encoding triose phosphate isomerasein Aspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae); and mutant, truncated,and hybrid promoters thereof.

In a yeast host, useful promoters are obtained from the genes forSaccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiaegalactokinase (GAL1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae alcoholdehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH1, ADH2/GAP),Saccharomyces cerevisiae triose phosphate isomerase (TPI), Saccharomycescerevisiae metallothionein (CUP1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae3-phosphoglycerate kinase. Other useful promoters for yeast host cellsare described by Romanos et al., 1992, Yeast 8: 423-488.

The control sequence may also be a suitable transcription terminatorsequence, which is recognized by a host cell to terminate transcription.The terminator sequence is operably linked to the 3′-terminus of thepolynucleotide encoding the polypeptide. Any terminator that isfunctional in the host cell of choice may be used in the presentinvention.

Preferred terminators for filamentous fungal host cells are obtainedfrom the genes for Aspergillus nidulans anthranilate synthase,Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus niger alpha-glucosidase,Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, and Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-likeprotease.

Preferred terminators for yeast host cells are obtained from the genesfor Saccharomyces cerevisiae enolase, Saccharomyces cerevisiaecytochrome C (CYC1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiaeglyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Other useful terminators foryeast host cells are described by Romanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be a suitable leader sequence, whentranscribed is a nontranslated region of an mRNA that is important fortranslation by the host cell. The leader sequence is operably linked tothe 5′-terminus of the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide. Anyleader sequence that is functional in the host cell of choice may beused.

Preferred leaders for filamentous fungal host cells are obtained fromthe genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase and Aspergillus nidulanstriose phosphate isomerase.

Suitable leaders for yeast host cells are obtained from the genes forSaccharomyces cerevisiae enolase (ENO-1), Saccharomyces cerevisiae3-phosphoglycerate kinase, Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor, andSaccharomyces cerevisiae alcoholdehydrogenase/glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (ADH2/GAP).

The control sequence may also be a polyadenylation sequence, a sequenceoperably linked to the 3′-terminus of the polynucleotide and, whentranscribed, is recognized by the host cell as a signal to addpolyadenosine residues to transcribed mRNA. Any polyadenylation sequencethat is functional in the host cell of choice may be used.

Preferred polyadenylation sequences for filamentous fungal host cellsare obtained from the genes for Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase,Aspergillus niger glucoamylase, Aspergillus nidulans anthranilatesynthase, Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like protease, and Aspergillusniger alpha-glucosidase.

Useful polyadenylation sequences for yeast host cells are described byGuo and Sherman, 1995, Mol. Cellular Biol. 15: 5983-5990.

The control sequence may also be a signal peptide coding region thatencodes a signal peptide linked to the N-terminus of a polypeptide anddirects the polypeptide into the cell's secretory pathway. The 5′-end ofthe coding sequence of the polynucleotide may inherently contain asignal peptide coding sequence naturally linked in translation readingframe with the segment of the coding sequence that encodes thepolypeptide. Alternatively, the 5′-end of the coding sequence maycontain a signal peptide coding sequence that is foreign to the codingsequence. The foreign signal peptide coding sequence may be requiredwhere the coding sequence does not naturally contain a signal peptidecoding sequence. Alternatively, the foreign signal peptide codingsequence may simply replace the natural signal peptide coding sequencein order to enhance secretion of the polypeptide. However, any signalpeptide coding sequence that directs the expressed polypeptide into thesecretory pathway of a host cell of choice may be used.

Effective signal peptide coding sequences for bacterial host cells arethe signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genes for BacillusNCI B 11837 maltogenic amylase, Bacillus licheniformis subtilisin,Bacillus licheniformis beta-lactamase, Bacillus stearothermophilusalpha-amylase, Bacillus stearothermophilus neutral proteases (nprT,nprS, nprM), and Bacillus subtilis prsA. Further signal peptides aredescribed by Simonen and Palva, 1993, Microbiological Reviews 57:109-137.

Effective signal peptide coding sequences for filamentous fungal hostcells are the signal peptide coding sequences obtained from the genesfor Aspergillus niger neutral amylase, Aspergillus niger glucoamylase,Aspergillus oryzae TAKA amylase, Humicola insolens cellulase, Humicolainsolens endoglucanase V, Humicola lanuginosa lipase, and Rhizomucormiehei aspartic proteinase.

Useful signal peptides for yeast host cells are obtained from the genesfor Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor and Saccharomyces cerevisiaeinvertase. Other useful signal peptide coding sequences are described byRomanos et al., 1992, supra.

The control sequence may also be a propeptide coding sequence thatencodes a propeptide positioned at the N-terminus of a polypeptide. Theresultant polypeptide is known as a proenzyme or propolypeptide (or azymogen in some cases). A propolypeptide is generally inactive and canbe converted to an active polypeptide by catalytic or autocatalyticcleavage of the propeptide from the propolypeptide. The propeptidecoding sequence may be obtained from the genes for Bacillus subtilisalkaline protease (aprE), Bacillus subtilis neutral protease (nprT),Myceliophthora thermophila laccase (WO 95/33836), Rhizomucor mieheiaspartic proteinase, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor.

Where both signal peptide and propeptide sequences are present at theN-terminus of a polypeptide, the propeptide sequence is positioned nextto the N-terminus of a polypeptide and the signal peptide sequence ispositioned next to the N-terminus of the propeptide sequence.

It may also be desirable to add regulatory sequences that allow theregulation of the expression of the polypeptide relative to the growthof the host cell. Examples of regulatory systems are those that causethe expression of the gene to be turned on or off in response to achemical or physical stimulus, including the presence of a regulatorycompound. Regulatory systems in prokaryotic systems include the lac,tac, and trp operator systems. In yeast, the ADH2 system or GAL1 systemmay be used. In filamentous fungi, the Aspergillus niger glucoamylasepromoter, Aspergillus oryzae TAKA alpha-amylase promoter, andAspergillus oryzae glucoamylase promoter may be used. Other examples ofregulatory sequences are those that allow for gene amplification. Ineukaryotic systems, these regulatory sequences include the dihydrofolatereductase gene that is amplified in the presence of methotrexate, andthe metallothionein genes that are amplified with heavy metals. In thesecases, the polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide would be operablylinked with the regulatory sequence.

Expression Vectors

The present invention also relates to recombinant expression vectorscomprising a polynucleotide of the present invention, a promoter, andtranscriptional and translational stop signals. The various nucleotideand control sequences may be joined together to produce a recombinantexpression vector that may include one or more (several) convenientrestriction sites to allow for insertion or substitution of thepolynucleotide encoding the polypeptide at such sites. Alternatively,the polynucleotide may be expressed by inserting the polynucleotide or anucleic acid construct comprising the sequence into an appropriatevector for expression. In creating the expression vector, the codingsequence is located in the vector so that the coding sequence isoperably linked with the appropriate control sequences for expression.

The recombinant expression vector may be any vector (e.g., a plasmid orvirus) that can be conveniently subjected to recombinant DNA proceduresand can bring about expression of the polynucleotide. The choice of thevector will typically depend on the compatibility of the vector with thehost cell into which the vector is to be introduced. The vector may be alinear or closed circular plasmid.

The vector may be an autonomously replicating vector, i.e., a vectorthat exists as an extrachromosomal entity, the replication of which isindependent of chromosomal replication, e.g., a plasmid, anextrachromosomal element, a minichromosome, or an artificial chromosome.The vector may contain any means for assuring self-replication.Alternatively, the vector may be one that, when introduced into the hostcell, is integrated into the genome and replicated together with thechromosome(s) into which it has been integrated. Furthermore, a singlevector or plasmid or two or more vectors or plasmids that togethercontain the total DNA to be introduced into the genome of the host cell,or a transposon, may be used.

The vector preferably contains one or more (several) selectable markersthat permit easy selection of transformed, transfected, transduced, orthe like cells. A selectable marker is a gene the product of whichprovides for biocide or viral resistance, resistance to heavy metals,prototrophy to auxotrophs, and the like.

Examples of bacterial selectable markers are the dal genes from Bacillussubtilis or Bacillus licheniformis, or markers that confer antibioticresistance such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, ortetracycline resistance. Suitable markers for yeast host cells are ADE2,HIS3, LEU2, LYS2, MET3, TRP1, and URA3. Selectable markers for use in afilamentous fungal host cell include, but are not limited to, amdS(acetamidase), argB (ornithine carbamoyltransferase), bar(phosphinothricin acetyltransferase), hph (hygromycinphosphotransferase), niaD (nitrate reductase), pyrG(orotidine-5′-phosphate decarboxylase), sC (sulfate adenyltransferase),and trpC (anthranilate synthase), as well as equivalents thereof.Preferred for use in an Aspergillus cell are the amdS and pyrG genes ofAspergillus nidulans or Aspergillus oryzae and the bar gene ofStreptomyces hygroscopicus.

The vector preferably contains an element(s) that permits integration ofthe vector into the host cell's genome or autonomous replication of thevector in the cell independent of the genome.

For integration into the host cell genome, the vector may rely on thepolynucleotide's sequence encoding the polypeptide or any other elementof the vector for integration into the genome by homologous ornon-homologous recombination. Alternatively, the vector may containadditional polynucleotides for directing integration by homologousrecombination into the genome of the host cell at a precise location(s)in the chromosome(s). To increase the likelihood of integration at aprecise location, the integrational elements should contain a sufficientnumber of nucleic acids, such as 100 to 10,000 base pairs, 400 to 10,000base pairs, and 800 to 10,000 base pairs, which have a high degree ofsequence identity to the corresponding target sequence to enhance theprobability of homologous recombination. The integrational elements maybe any sequence that is homologous with the target sequence in thegenome of the host cell. Furthermore, the integrational elements may benon-encoding or encoding polynucleotides. On the other hand, the vectormay be integrated into the genome of the host cell by non-homologousrecombination.

For autonomous replication, the vector may further comprise an origin ofreplication enabling the vector to replicate autonomously in the hostcell in question. The origin of replication may be any plasmidreplicator mediating autonomous replication that functions in a cell.The term “origin of replication” or “plasmid replicator” means apolynucleotide that enables a plasmid or vector to replicate in vivo.

Examples of bacterial origins of replication are the origins ofreplication of plasmids pBR322, pUC19, pACYC177, and pACYC184 permittingreplication in E. coli, and pUB110, pE194, pTA1060, and pAMβ1 permittingreplication in Bacillus.

Examples of origins of replication for use in a yeast host cell are the2 micron origin of replication, ARS1, ARS4, the combination of ARS1 andCEN3, and the combination of ARS4 and CEN6.

Examples of origins of replication useful in a filamentous fungal cellare AMA1 and ANS1 (Gems et al., 1991, Gene 98: 61-67; Cullen et al.,1987, Nucleic Acids Res. 15: 9163-9175; WO 00/24883). Isolation of theAMA1 gene and construction of plasmids or vectors comprising the genecan be accomplished using the methods disclosed in WO 00/24883.

More than one copy of a polynucleotide of the present invention may beinserted into a host cell to increase production of a polypeptide. Anincrease in the copy number of the polynucleotide can be obtained byintegrating at least one additional copy of the sequence into the hostcell genome or by including an amplifiable selectable marker gene withthe polynucleotide where cells containing amplified copies of theselectable marker gene, and thereby additional copies of thepolynucleotide, can be selected for by cultivating the cells in thepresence of the appropriate selectable agent.

The procedures used to ligate the elements described above to constructthe recombinant expression vectors of the present invention are wellknown to one skilled in the art (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., 1989,supra).

Host Cells

The present invention also relates to recombinant host cells, comprisinga polynucleotide of the present invention operably linked to one or more(several) control sequences that direct the production of a polypeptideof the present invention. A construct or vector comprising apolynucleotide is introduced into a host cell so that the construct orvector is maintained as a chromosomal integrant or as a self-replicatingextra-chromosomal vector as described earlier. The term “host cell”encompasses any progeny of a parent cell that is not identical to theparent cell due to mutations that occur during replication. The choiceof a host cell will to a large extent depend upon the gene encoding thepolypeptide and its source.

The host cell may be any cell useful in the recombinant production of apolypeptide of the present invention, e.g., a prokaryote or a eukaryote.

The prokaryotic host cell may be any gram-positive or gram-negativebacterium. Gram-positive bacteria include, but not limited to, Bacillus,Clostridium, Enterococcus, Geobacillus, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus,Oceanobacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Streptomyces.Gram-negative bacteria include, but not limited to, Campylobacter, E.coli, Flavobacterium, Fusobacterium, Helicobacter, Ilyobacter,Neisseria, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, and Ureaplasma.

The bacterial host cell may be any Bacillus cell including, but notlimited to, Bacillus alkalophilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillusbrevis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus clausii, Bacillus coagulans,Bacillus firmus, Bacillus lautus, Bacillus lentus, Bacilluslicheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillusstearothermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus thuringiensis cells.

The bacterial host cell may also be any Streptococcus cell including,but not limited to, Streptococcus equisimilis, Streptococcus pyogenes,Streptococcus uberis, and Streptococcus equi subsp. Zooepidemicus cells.

The bacterial host cell may also be any Streptomyces cell including, butnot limited to, Streptomyces achromogenes, Streptomyces avermitilis,Streptomyces coelicolor, Streptomyces griseus, and Streptomyces lividanscells.

The introduction of DNA into a Bacillus cell may, for instance, beeffected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Chang and Cohen, 1979,Mol. Gen. Genet. 168: 111-115), by using competent cells (see, e.g.,Young and Spizizen, 1961, J. Bacteriol. 81: 823-829, or Dubnau andDavidoff-Abelson, 1971, J. Mol. Biol. 56: 209-221), by electroporation(see, e.g., Shigekawa and Dower, 1988, Biotechniques 6: 742-751), or byconjugation (see, e.g., Koehler and Thorne, 1987, J. Bacteriol. 169:5271-5278). The introduction of DNA into an E. coli cell may, forinstance, be effected by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Hanahan,1983, J. Mol. Biol. 166: 557-580) or electroporation (see, e.g., Doweret al., 1988, Nucleic Acids Res. 16: 6127-6145). The introduction of DNAinto a Streptomyces cell may, for instance, be effected by protoplasttransformation and electroporation (see, e.g., Gong et al., 2004, FoliaMicrobiol. (Praha) 49: 399-405), by conjugation (see, e.g., Mazodier etal., 1989, J. Bacteriol. 171: 3583-3585), or by transduction (see, e.g.,Burke et al., 2001, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98: 6289-6294). Theintroduction of DNA into a Pseudomonas cell may, for instance, beeffected by electroporation (see, e.g., Choi et al., 2006, J. Microbiol.Methods 64: 391-397) or by conjugation (see, e.g., Pinedo and Smets,2005, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 51-57). The introduction of DNA intoa Streptococcus cell may, for instance, be effected by naturalcompetence (see, e.g., Perry and Kuramitsu, 1981, Infect Immun. 32:1295-1297), by protoplast transformation (see, e.g., Catt and Jollick,1991, Microbios 68: 189-207, by electroporation (see, e.g., Buckley etal., 1999, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 65: 3800-3804) or by conjugation(see, e.g., Clewell, 1981, Microbiol. Rev. 45: 409-436). However, anymethod known in the art for introducing DNA into a host cell can beused.

The host cell may also be a eukaryote, such as a mammalian, insect,plant, or fungal cell.

The host cell may be a fungal cell. “Fungi” as used herein includes thephyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota (asdefined by Hawksworth et al., In, Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary ofThe Fungi, 8th edition, 1995, CAB International, University Press,Cambridge, UK) as well as the Oomycota (as cited in Hawksworth et al.,1995, supra, page 171) and all mitosporic fungi (Hawksworth et al.,1995, supra).

The fungal host cell may be a yeast cell. “Yeast” as used hereinincludes ascosporogenous yeast (Endomycetales), basidiosporogenousyeast, and yeast belonging to the Fungi Imperfecti (Blastomycetes).Since the classification of yeast may change in the future, for thepurposes of this invention, yeast shall be defined as described inBiology and Activities of Yeast (Skinner, F. A., Passmore, S. M., andDavenport, R. R., eds, Soc. App. Bacteriol. Symposium Series No. 9,1980).

The yeast host cell may be a Candida, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia,Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, or Yarrowia cell such as aKluyveromyces lactis, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis, Saccharomycescerevisiae, Saccharomyces diastaticus, Saccharomyces douglasii,Saccharomyces kluyveri, Saccharomyces norbensis, Saccharomycesoviformis, or Yarrowia lipolytica cell.

The fungal host cell may be a filamentous fungal cell. “Filamentousfungi” include all filamentous forms of the subdivision Eumycota andOomycota (as defined by Hawksworth et al., 1995, supra). The filamentousfungi are generally characterized by a mycelial wall composed of chitin,cellulose, glucan, chitosan, mannan, and other complex polysaccharides.Vegetative growth is by hyphal elongation and carbon catabolism isobligately aerobic. In contrast, vegetative growth by yeasts such asSaccharomyces cerevisiae is by budding of a unicellular thallus andcarbon catabolism may be fermentative.

The filamentous fungal host cell may be an Acremonium, Aspergillus,Aureobasidium, Bjerkandera, Ceriporiopsis, Chrysosporium, Coprinus,Coriolus, Cryptococcus, Filibasidium, Fusarium, Humicola, Magnaporthe,Mucor, Myceliophthora, Neocallimastix, Neurospora, Paecilomyces,Penicillium, Phanerochaete, Phlebia, Piromyces, Pleurotus,Schizophyllum, Talaromyces, Thermoascus, Thielavia, Tolypocladium,Trametes, or Trichoderma cell.

For example, the filamentous fungal host cell may be an Aspergillusawamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillusjaponicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae,Bjerkandera adusta, Ceriporiopsis aneirina, Ceriporiopsis caregiea,Ceriporiopsis gilvescens, Ceriporiopsis pannocinta, Ceriporiopsisrivulosa, Ceriporiopsis subrufa, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora,Chrysosporium inops, Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Chrysosporiumlucknowense, Chrysosporium merdarium, Chrysosporium pannicola,Chrysosporium queenslandicum, Chrysosporium tropicum, Chrysosporiumzonatum, Coprinus cinereus, Coriolus hirsutus, Fusarium bactridioides,Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusariumgraminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusarium heterosporum, Fusarium negundi,Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium reticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusariumsambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum, Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusariumsulphureum, Fusarium torulosum, Fusarium trichothecioides, Fusariumvenenatum, Humicola insolens, Humicola lanuginosa, Mucor miehei,Myceliophthora thermophila, Neurospora crassa, Penicillium purpurogenum,Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Phlebia radiata, Pleurotus eryngii,Thielavia terrestris, Trametes villosa, Trametes versicolor, Trichodermaharzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma longibrachiatum,Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride cell.

Fungal cells may be transformed by a process involving protoplastformation, transformation of the protoplasts, and regeneration of thecell wall in a manner known per se. Suitable procedures fortransformation of Aspergillus and Trichoderma host cells are describedin EP 238023 and Yelton et al., 1984, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:1470-1474. Suitable methods for transforming Fusarium species aredescribed by Malardier et al., 1989, Gene 78: 147-156, and WO 96/00787.Yeast may be transformed using the procedures described by Becker andGuarente, In Abelson, J. N. and Simon, M. I., editors, Guide to YeastGenetics and Molecular Biology, Methods in Enzymology, Volume 194, pp182-187, Academic Press, Inc., New York; Ito et al., 1983, J. Bacteriol.153: 163; and Hinnen et al., 1978, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 75: 1920.

Methods of Production

The present invention also relates to methods of producing a polypeptideof the present invention, comprising: (a) cultivating a cell, which inits wild-type form produces the polypeptide, under conditions conducivefor production of the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the polypeptide.In a preferred aspect, the cell is of the genus Bacillus.

The present invention also relates to methods of producing a polypeptideof the present invention, comprising: (a) cultivating a recombinant hostcell of the present invention under conditions conducive for productionof the polypeptide; and (b) recovering the polypeptide.

The host cells are cultivated in a nutrient medium suitable forproduction of the polypeptide using methods well known in the art. Forexample, the cell may be cultivated by shake flask cultivation, andsmall-scale or large-scale fermentation (including continuous, batch,fed-batch, or solid state fermentations) in laboratory or industrialfermentors performed in a suitable medium and under conditions allowingthe polypeptide to be expressed and/or isolated. The cultivation takesplace in a suitable nutrient medium comprising carbon and nitrogensources and inorganic salts, using procedures known in the art. Suitablemedia are available from commercial suppliers or may be preparedaccording to published compositions (e.g., in catalogues of the AmericanType Culture Collection). If the polypeptide is secreted into thenutrient medium, the polypeptide can be recovered directly from themedium. If the polypeptide is not secreted, it can be recovered fromcell lysates.

The polypeptide may be detected using methods known in the art that arespecific for the polypeptides. These detection methods may include useof specific antibodies, formation of an enzyme product, or disappearanceof an enzyme substrate. For example, an enzyme assay may be used todetermine the activity of the polypeptide.

The polypeptide may be recovered using methods known in the art. Forexample, the polypeptide may be recovered from the nutrient medium byconventional procedures including, but not limited to, centrifugation,filtration, extraction, spray-drying, evaporation, or precipitation.

The polypeptide may be purified by a variety of procedures known in theart including, but not limited to, chromatography (e.g., ion exchange,affinity, hydrophobic, chromatofocusing, and size exclusion),electrophoretic procedures (e.g., preparative isoelectric focusing),differential solubility (e.g., ammonium sulfate precipitation),SDS-PAGE, or extraction (see, e.g., Protein Purification, J.-C. Jansonand Lars Ryden, editors, VCH Publishers, New York, 1989) to obtainsubstantially pure polypeptides.

In an alternative aspect, the polypeptide is not recovered, but rather ahost cell of the present invention expressing a polypeptide is used as asource of the polypeptide.

Compositions

The present invention also relates to compositions comprising apolypeptide of the present invention. Preferably, the compositions areenriched in such a polypeptide. The term “enriched” indicates that theprotease activity of the composition has been increased, e.g., with anenrichment factor of at least 1.1.

The composition may comprise a polypeptide of the present invention asthe major enzymatic component, e.g., a mono-component composition.Alternatively, the composition may comprise multiple enzymaticactivities, such as an aminopeptidase, amylase, carbohydrase,carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, chitinase, cutinase, cyclodextringlycosyltransferase, deoxyribonuclease, esterase, alpha-galactosidase,beta-galactosidase, glucoamylase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase,haloperoxidase, invertase, laccase, lipase, mannosidase, oxidase,pectinolytic enzyme, peptidoglutaminase, peroxidase, phytase,polyphenoloxidase, proteolytic enzyme, ribonuclease, transglutaminase,or xylanase. The additional enzyme(s) may be produced, for example, by amicroorganism belonging to the genus Aspergillus, e.g., Aspergillusaculeatus, Aspergillus awamori, Aspergillus foetidus, Aspergillusfumigatus, Aspergillus japonicus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillusniger, or Aspergillus oryzae; Fusarium, e.g., Fusarium bactridioides,Fusarium cerealis, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusariumgraminearum, Fusarium graminum, Fusarium heterosporum, Fusarium negundi,Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium reticulatum, Fusarium roseum, Fusariumsambucinum, Fusarium sarcochroum, Fusarium suiphureum, Fusariumtoruloseum, Fusarium trichothecioides, or Fusarium venenatum; Humicola,e.g., Humicola insolens or Humicola lanuginosa; or Trichoderma, e.g.,Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichodermalongibrachiatum, Trichoderma reesei, or Trichoderma viride.

The compositions may be prepared in accordance with methods known in theart and may be in the form of a liquid or a dry composition. Forinstance, the composition may be in the form of a granulate or amicrogranulate. The polypeptide may be stabilized in accordance withmethods known in the art.

Detergent Compositions

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to detergent compositionscomprising an enzyme of the present invention in combination with one ormore additional cleaning composition components.

The choice of additional components is within the skill of the artisanand includes conventional ingredients, including the exemplarynon-limiting components set forth below. The choice of components mayinclude, for fabric care, the consideration of the type of fabric to becleaned, the type and/or degree of soiling, the temperature at whichcleaning is to take place, and the formulation of the detergent product.Although components mentioned below are categorized by general headeraccording to a particular functionality, this is not to be construed asa limitation, as a component may comprise additional functionalities aswill be appreciated by the skilled artisan.

Thus, one embodiment of the invention concerns a detergent compositioncomprising a polypeptide having a sequence identity to the maturepolypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, atleast 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or100%, which have protease activity. In one aspect, the polypeptidesdiffer by no more than ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, byfour amino acids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids, and by oneamino acid from the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Another embodiment relates to a detergent composition comprising apolypeptide having a sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQID NO: 4 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%, which haveprotease activity. In one aspect, the polypeptides differ by no morethan ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, by four amino acids, bythree amino acids, by two amino acids, and by one amino acid from themature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4.

Yet another embodiment relates to a detergent composition comprising apolypeptide having a sequence identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQID NO: 6 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or 100%, which haveprotease activity. In one aspect, the polypeptides differ by no morethan ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, by four amino acids, bythree amino acids, by two amino acids, and by one amino acid from themature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition further comprises at leastone other enzyme selected from the group of further proteases, amylases,lipases, cutinases, cellulases, endoglucanases, xyloglucanases,pectinases, pectin lyases, xanthanases, peroxidaes, haloperoxygenases,catalases, mannanases, or any mixture thereof.

Enzyme of the Present Invention

In one embodiment of the present invention, the polypeptide of thepresent invention may be added to a detergent composition in an amountcorresponding to 0.001-100 mg of protein, such as 0.01-100 mg ofprotein, preferably 0.005-50 mg of protein, more preferably 0.01-25 mgof protein, even more preferably 0.05-10 mg of protein, most preferably0.05-5 mg of protein, most preferably 0.02-2 mg of protein, and evenmost preferably 0.01-1 mg of protein per liter of wash liquor.

The enzyme(s) of the detergent composition of the invention may bestabilized using conventional stabilizing agents, e.g., a polyol such aspropylene glycol or glycerol, a sugar or sugar alcohol, lactic acid,boric acid, or a boric acid derivative, e.g., an aromatic borate ester,or a phenyl boronic acid derivative such as 4-formylphenyl boronic acid,and the composition may be formulated as described in, for example, WO92/19709 and WO 92/19708.

A polypeptide of the present invention may also be incorporated in thedetergent formulations disclosed in WO 97/07202, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Surfactants

The detergent composition may comprise one or more surfactants, whichmay be anionic and/or cationic and/or non-ionic and/or semi-polar and/orzwitterionic, or a mixture thereof. In a particular embodiment, thedetergent composition includes a mixture of one or more nonionicsurfactants and one or more anionic surfactants. The surfactant(s) istypically present at a level of from about 0.1% to 60% by weight, suchas about 1% to about 40%, or about 3% to about 20%, or about 3% to about10%. The surfactant(s) is chosen based on the desired cleaningapplication, and includes any conventional surfactant(s) known in theart. Any surfactant known in the art for use in detergents may beutilized.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1%to about 40% by weight, such as from about 5% to about 30%, includingfrom about 5% to about 15%, or from about 20% to about 25% of an anionicsurfactant. Non-limiting examples of anionic surfactants includesulfates and sulfonates, in particular, linear alkylbenzenesulfonates(LAS), isomers of LAS, branched alkylbenzenesulfonates (BABS),phenylalkanesulfonates, alpha-olefinsulfonates (AOS), olefin sulfonates,alkene sulfonates, alkane-2,3-diylbis(sulfates), hydroxyalkanesulfonatesand disulfonates, alkyl sulfates (AS) such as sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS), fatty alcohol sulfates (FAS), primary alcohol sulfates (PAS),alcohol ethersulfates (AES or AEOS or FES, also known as alcoholethoxysulfates or fatty alcohol ether sulfates), secondaryalkanesulfonates (SAS), paraffin sulfonates (PS), ester sulfonates,sulfonated fatty acid glycerol esters, alpha-sulfo fatty acid methylesters (alpha-SFMe or SES) including methyl ester sulfonate (MES),alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid, dodecenyl/tetradecenyl succinic acid(DTSA), fatty acid derivatives of amino acids, diesters and monoestersof sulfo-succinic acid or soap, and combinations thereof.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1%to about 40% by weight of a cationic surfactant. Non-limiting examplesof cationic surfactants include alklydimethylehanolamine quat (ADMEAQ),cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), dimethyldistearylammoniumchloride (DSDMAC), and alkylbenzyldimethylammonium, and combinationsthereof, Alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds, Alkoxylated quaternaryammonium (AQA).

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 0.2%to about 40% by weight of a non-ionic surfactant, for example from about0.5% to about 30%, in particular from about 1% to about 20%, from about3% to about 10%, such as from about 3% to about 5%, or from about 8% toabout 12%. Non-limiting examples of non-ionic surfactants includealcohol ethoxylates (AE or AEO), alcohol propoxylates, propoxylatedfatty alcohols (PFA), alkoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, such asethoxylated and/or propoxylated fatty acid alkyl esters, alkylphenolethoxylates (APE), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE), alkylpolyglycosides(APG), alkoxylated amines, fatty acid monoethanolamides (FAM), fattyacid diethanolamides (FADA), ethoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamides(EFAM), propoxylated fatty acid monoethanolamide (PFAM), polyhydroxyalkyl fatty acid amides, or N-acyl N-alkyl derivatives of glucosamine(glucamides, GA, or fatty acid glucamide, FAGA), as well as productsavailable under the trade names SPAN and TWEEN, and combinationsthereof.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1%to about 40% by weight of a semipolar surfactant. Non-limiting examplesof semipolar surfactants include amine oxides (AO) such asalkyldimethylamineoxide, N-(coco alkyl)-N,N-dimethylamine oxide andN-(tallow-alkyl)-N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amine oxide, fatty acidalkanolamides and ethoxylated fatty acid alkanolamides, and combinationsthereof.

When included therein the detergent will usually contain from about 1%to about 40% by weight of a zwitterionic surfactant. Non-limitingexamples of zwitterionic surfactants include betaine,alkyldimethylbetaine, and sulfobetaine, and combinations thereof.

Hydrotropes

A hydrotrope is a compound that solubilises hydrophobic compounds inaqueous solutions (or oppositely, polar substances in a non-polarenvironment). Typically, hydrotropes have both hydrophilic and ahydrophobic character (so-called amphiphilic properties as known fromsurfactants); however, the molecular structure of hydrotropes generallydo not favor spontaneous self-aggregation, see, e.g., review by Hodgdonand Kaler, 2007, Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science 12:121-128. Hydrotropes do not display a critical concentration above whichself-aggregation occurs as found for surfactants and lipids formingmiceller, lamellar or other well defined meso-phases. Instead, manyhydrotropes show a continuous-type aggregation process where the sizesof aggregates grow as concentration increases. However, many hydrotropesalter the phase behavior, stability, and colloidal properties of systemscontaining substances of polar and non-polar character, includingmixtures of water, oil, surfactants, and polymers. Hydrotropes areclassically used across industries from pharma, personal care, food, totechnical applications. Use of hydrotropes in detergent compositionsallow for example more concentrated formulations of surfactants (as inthe process of compacting liquid detergents by removing water) withoutinducing undesired phenomena such as phase separation or high viscosity.

The detergent may contain 0-5% by weight, such as about 0.5 to about 5%,or about 3% to about 5%, of a hydrotrope. Any hydrotrope known in theart for use in detergents may be utilized. Non-limiting examples ofhydrotropes include sodium benzene sulfonate, sodium p-toluenesulfonates (STS), sodium xylene sulfonates (SXS), sodium cumenesulfonates (SCS), sodium cymene sulfonate, amine oxides, alcohols andpolyglycolethers, sodium hydroxynaphthoate, sodium hydroxynaphthalenesulfonate, sodium ethylhexyl sulfate, and combinations thereof.

Builders and Co-Builders

The detergent composition may contain about 0-65% by weight, such asabout 5% to about 50% of a detergent builder or co-builder, or a mixturethereof. In a dish wash detergent, the level of builder is typically40-65%, particularly 50-65%. The builder and/or co-builder mayparticularly be a chelating agent that forms water-soluble complexeswith Ca and Mg. Any builder and/or co-builder known in the art for usein laundry detergents may be utilized. Non-limiting examples of buildersinclude zeolites, diphosphates (pyrophosphates), triphosphates such assodium triphosphate (STP or STPP), carbonates such as sodium carbonate,soluble silicates such as sodium metasilicate, layered silicates (e.g.,SKS-6 from Hoechst), ethanolamines such as 2-aminoethan-1-ol (MEA),iminodiethanol (DEA) and 2,2′,2″-nitrilotriethanol (TEA), andcarboxymethylinulin (CMI), and combinations thereof.

The detergent composition may also contain 0-65% by weight, such asabout 5% to about 40%, of a detergent co-builder, or a mixture thereof.The detergent composition may include a co-builder alone, or incombination with a builder, for example a zeolite builder. Non-limitingexamples of co-builders include homopolymers of polyacrylates orcopolymers thereof, such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) or copoly(acrylicacid/maleic acid) (PAA/PMA). Further non-limiting examples includecitrate, chelators such as aminocarboxylates, aminopolycarboxylates andphosphonates, and alkyl- or alkenylsuccinic acid. Additional specificexamples include 2,2′,2″-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA),etheylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), diethylenetriaminepentaaceticacid (DTPA), iminodisuccinic acid (IDS), ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinicacid (EDDS), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), glutamic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (GLDA), 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diylbis(phosphonic acid)(HEDP), ethylenediaminetetrakis(methylene)tetrakis(phosphonic acid)(EDTMPA), diethylenetriaminepentakis(methylene)pentakis(phosphonic acid)(DTPMPA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)iminodiacetic acid (EDG), asparticacid-N-monoacetic acid (ASMA), aspartic acid-N, N-diacetic acid (ASDA),aspartic acid-N-monopropionic acid (ASMP), iminodisuccinic acid (IDA),N-(2-sulfomethyl) aspartic acid (SMAS), N-(2-sulfoethyl) aspartic acid(SEAS), N-(2-sulfomethyl) glutamic acid (SMGL), N-(2-sulfoethyl)glutamic acid (SEGL), N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA),α-alanine-N,N-diacetic acid (α-ALDA), serine-N,N-diacetic acid (SEDA),isoserine-N,N-diacetic acid (ISDA), phenylalanine-N,N-diacetic acid(PHDA), anthranilic acid-N, N-diacetic acid (ANDA), sulfanilic acid-N,N-diacetic acid (SLDA), taurine-N, N-diacetic acid (TUDA) andsulfomethyl-N,N-diacetic acid (SMDA),N-(hydroxyethyl)-ethylidenediaminetriacetate (HEDTA), diethanolglycine(DEG), Diethylenetriamine Penta (Methylene Phosphonic acid) (DTPMP),aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid) (ATMP), and combinations and saltsthereof. Further exemplary builders and/or co-builders are described in,e.g., WO 2009/102854, U.S. Pat. No. 5,977,053. Incrustation inhibitorssuch as phosphonates.

Bleaching Systems

The detergent may contain 0-10% by weight, such as about 1% to about 5%,of a bleaching system. Any bleaching system known in the art for use inlaundry detergents may be utilized. Suitable bleaching system componentsinclude bleaching catalysts, photobleaches, bleach activators, sourcesof hydrogen peroxide such as sodium percarbonate and sodium perborates,preformed peracids and mixtures thereof. Suitable preformed peracidsinclude, but are not limited to, peroxycarboxylic acids and salts,percarbonic acids and salts, perimidic acids and salts,peroxymonosulfuric acids and salts, for example, Oxone (R), and mixturesthereof. Non-limiting examples of bleaching systems includeperoxide-based bleaching systems, which may comprise, for example, aninorganic salt, including alkali metal salts such as sodium salts ofperborate (usually mono- or tetra-hydrate), percarbonate, persulfate,perphosphate, persilicate salts, in combination with a peracid-formingbleach activator. By Bleach activator is meant herin a compound whichreacts with peroxygen bleach like hydrogen peroxide to form a Peracid.The peracid thus formed constitutes the activated bleach. Suitablebleach activators to be used herin include those belonging to the classof esters amides, imides or anhydrides, Suitable examples are tetracetylathylene diamine (TAED), sodium 3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzenesulphonat, diperoxy dodecanoic acid, 4-(dodecanoyloxy)benzenesulfonate(LOBS), 4-(decanoyloxy)benzenesulfonate, 4-(decanoyloxy)benzoate (DOBS),4-(3,5,5-trimethylhexanoyloxy)benzenesulfonate (ISONOBS),tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) and 4-(nonanoyloxy)benzenesulfonate(NOBS), and/or those disclosed in WO 98/17767. A particular family ofbleach activators of interest was disclosed in EP 624154 andparticularly preferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC).ATC or a short chain triglyceride like Triacin has the advantage that itis environmental friendly as it eventually degrades into citric acid andalcohol. Furthermore, acethyl triethyl citrate and triacetin has a goodhydrolytical stability in the product upon storage and it is anefficient bleach activator. Finally ATC provides a good buildingcapacity to the laundry additive. Alternatively, the bleaching systemmay comprise peroxyacids of, for example, the amide, imide, or sulfonetype. The bleaching system may also comprise peracids such as6-(phthaloylamino)percapronic acid (PAP). The bleaching system may alsoinclude a bleach catalyst. In some embodiments the bleach component maybe an organic catalyst selected from the group consisting of organiccatalysts having the following formulae:

(iii) and mixtures thereof; wherein each R¹ is independently a branchedalkyl group containing from 9 to 24 carbons or linear alkyl groupcontaining from 11 to 24 carbons, preferably each R¹ is independently abranched alkyl group containing from 9 to 18 carbons or linear alkylgroup containing from 11 to 18 carbons, more preferably each R¹ isindependently selected from the group consisting of 2-propylheptyl,2-butyloctyl, 2-pentylnonyl, 2-hexyldecyl, n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl,n-hexadecyl, n-octadecyl, iso-nonyl, iso-decyl, iso-tridecyl andiso-pentadecyl. Other exemplary bleaching systems are described, e.g.,in WO 2007/087258, WO 2007/087244, WO 2007/087259, WO 2007/087242.Suitable photobleaches may for example be sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine

Polymers

The detergent may contain 0-10% by weight, such as 0.5-5%, 2-5%, 0.5-2%or 0.2-1% of a polymer. Any polymer known in the art for use indetergents may be utilized. The polymer may function as a co-builder asmentioned above, or may provide antiredeposition, fiber protection, soilrelease, dye transfer inhibition, grease cleaning and/or anti-foamingproperties. Some polymers may have more than one of the above-mentionedproperties and/or more than one of the below-mentioned motifs. Exemplarypolymers include (carboxymethyl)cellulose (CMC), poly(vinyl alcohol)(PVA), poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poly(ethyleneglycol) orpoly(ethylene oxide) (PEG), ethoxylated poly(ethyleneimine),carboxymethyl inulin (CMI), and polycarboxylates such as PAA, PAA/PMA,poly-aspartic acid, and lauryl methacrylate/acrylic acid copolymers,hydrophobically modified CMC (HM-CMC) and silicones, copolymers ofterephthalic acid and oligomeric glycols, copolymers of polyethyleneterephthalate and polyoxyethene terephthalate (PET-POET), PVP,poly(vinylimidazole) (PVI), poly(vinylpyridin-N-oxide) (PVPO or PVPNO)and polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinylimidazole (PVPVI). Further exemplarypolymers include sulfonated polycarboxylates, polyethylene oxide andpolypropylene oxide (PEO-PPO) and diquaternium ethoxy sulfate. Otherexemplary polymers are disclosed in, e.g., WO 2006/130575. Salts of theabove-mentioned polymers are also contemplated.

Fabric Hueing Agents

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also includefabric hueing agents such as dyes or pigments which when formulated indetergent compositions can deposit onto a fabric when said fabric iscontacted with a wash liquor comprising said detergent compositions thusaltering the tint of said fabric through absorption/reflection ofvisible light. Fluorescent whitening agents emit at least some visiblelight. In contrast, fabric hueing agents alter the tint of a surface asthey absorb at least a portion of the visible light spectrum. Suitablefabric hueing agents include dyes and dye-clay conjugates, and may alsoinclude pigments. Suitable dyes include small molecule dyes andpolymeric dyes. Suitable small molecule dyes include small molecule dyesselected from the group consisting of dyes falling into the Colour Index(C.I.) classifications of Direct Blue, Direct Red, Direct Violet, AcidBlue, Acid Red, Acid Violet, Basic Blue, Basic Violet and Basic Red, ormixtures thereof, for example as described in WO 2005/003274, WO2005/003275, WO 2005/003276 and EP 1876226 (hereby incorporated byreference). The detergent composition preferably comprises from about0.00003 wt. % to about 0.2 wt. %, from about 0.00008 wt. % to about 0.05wt. %, or even from about 0.0001 wt. % to about 0.04 wt. % fabric hueingagent. The composition may comprise from 0.0001 wt. % to 0.2 wt. %fabric hueing agent, this may be especially preferred when thecomposition is in the form of a unit dose pouch. Suitable hueing agentsare also disclosed in, e.g., WO 2007/087257, WO 2007/087243.

(Additional) Enzymes

The detergent additive as well as the detergent composition may compriseone or more [additional] enzymes such as a protease, lipase, cutinase,an amylase, carbohydrase, cellulase, pectinase, mannanase, arabinase,galactanase, xylanase, oxidase, e.g., a laccase, and/or peroxidase.

In general, the properties of the selected enzyme(s) should becompatible with the selected detergent, (i.e., pH-optimum, compatibilitywith other enzymatic and non-enzymatic ingredients, etc.), and theenzyme(s) should be present in effective amounts.

Cellulases:

Suitable cellulases include those of bacterial or fungal origin.Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included. Suitablecellulases include cellulases from the genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas,Humicola, Fusarium, Thielavia, Acremonium, e.g., the fungal cellulasesproduced from Humicola insolens, Myceliophthora thermophila and Fusariumoxysporum disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,307, U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,263,U.S. Pat. No. 5,691,178, U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,757 and WO 89/09259.

Especially suitable cellulases are the alkaline or neutral cellulaseshaving color care benefits. Examples of such cellulases are cellulasesdescribed in EP 0 495 257, EP 0 531 372, WO 96/11262, WO 96/29397, WO98/08940. Other examples are cellulase variants such as those describedin WO 94/07998, EP 0 531 315, U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,046, U.S. Pat. No.5,686,593, U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,254, WO 95/24471, WO 98/12307 andPCT/DK98/00299.

Commercially available cellulases include Celluzyme™, and Carezyme™(Novozymes A/S), Clazinase™, and Puradax HA™ (Genencor InternationalInc.), and KAC-500(B)™ (Kao Corporation).

Proteases:

Suitable proteases include those of animal, vegetable or microbialorigin. Microbial origin is preferred. Chemically modified or proteinengineered mutants are included. The protease may be a serine proteaseor a metalloprotease, preferably an alkaline microbial protease or atrypsin-like protease. Examples of alkaline proteases are subtilisins,especially those derived from Bacillus, e.g., subtilisin Novo,subtilisin Carlsberg, subtilisin 309, subtilisin 147 and subtilisin 168(described in WO 89/06279). Examples of trypsin-like proteases aretrypsin (e.g., of porcine or bovine origin) and the Fusarium proteasedescribed in WO 89/06270 and WO 94/25583.

Examples of useful proteases are the variants described in WO 92/19729,WO 98/20115, WO 98/20116, and WO 98/34946, especially the variants withsubstitutions in one or more of the following positions: 27, 36, 57, 76,87, 97, 101, 104, 120, 123, 167, 170, 194, 206, 218, 222, 224, 235, and274.

Preferred commercially available protease enzymes include Alcalase™,Savinase™ Primase™, Duralase™, Esperase™, and Kannase™ (Novozymes A/S),Maxatase™, Maxacal™ Maxapem™, Properase™, Purafect™, Purafect OxP™,FN2™, and FN3™ (Genencor International Inc.).

Lipases and Cutinases:

Suitable lipases and cutinases include those of bacterial or fungalorigin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included.Examples include lipase from Thermomyces, e.g., from T. lanuginosus(previously named Humicola lanuginosa) as described in EP 258 068 and EP305 216, cutinase from Humicola, e.g., H. insolens as described in WO96/13580, a Pseudomonas lipase, e.g., from P. alcaligenes or P.pseudoalcaligenes (EP 218 272), P. cepacia (EP 331 376), P. stutzeri (GB1,372,034), P. fluorescens, Pseudomonas sp. strain SD 705 (WO 95/06720and WO 96/27002), P. wisconsinensis (WO 96/12012), a Bacillus lipase,e.g., from B. subtilis (Dartois et al., 1993, Biochemica et BiophysicaActa, 1131: 253-360), B. stearothermophilus (JP 64/744992) or B. pumilus(WO 91/16422).

Other examples are lipase variants such as those described in WO92/05249, WO 94/01541, EP 407 225, EP 260 105, WO 95/35381, WO 96/00292,WO 95/30744, WO 94/25578, WO 95/14783, WO 95/22615, WO 97/04079, WO97/07202, WO 00/060063, WO 2007/087508 and WO 2009/109500.

Preferred commercially available lipase enzymes include Lipolase™,Lipolase Ultra™, and Lipex™; Lecitase™, Lipolex™; Lipoclean™, Lipoprime™(Novozymes A/S). Other commercially available lipases include Lumafast(Genencor Int Inc); Lipomax (Gist-Brocades/Genencor Int Inc) andBacillus sp lipase from Solvay.

Amylases:

Suitable amylases (α and/or β) include those of bacterial or fungalorigin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants are included.Amylases include, for example, α-amylases obtained from Bacillus, e.g.,a special strain of Bacillus licheniformis, described in more detail inGB 1,296,839.

Examples of useful amylases are the variants described in WO 94/02597,WO 94/18314, WO 96/23873, and WO 97/43424, especially the variants withsubstitutions in one or more of the following positions: 15, 23, 105,106, 124, 128, 133, 154, 156, 181, 188, 190, 197, 202, 208, 209, 243,264, 304, 305, 391, 408, and 444.

Commercially available amylases are Duramyl™, Termamyl™, Fungamyl™ andBAN™ (Novozymes A/S), Rapidase™ and Purastar™ (from GenencorInternational Inc.).

Peroxidases/Oxidases:

Suitable peroxidases/oxidases include those of plant, bacterial orfungal origin. Chemically modified or protein engineered mutants areincluded. Examples of useful peroxidases include peroxidases fromCoprinus, e.g., from C. cinereus, and variants thereof as thosedescribed in WO 93/24618, WO 95/10602, and WO 98/15257.

Commercially available peroxidases include Guardzyme™ (Novozymes A/S).

The detergent enzyme(s) may be included in a detergent composition byadding separate additives containing one or more enzymes, or by adding acombined additive comprising all of these enzymes. A detergent additiveof the invention, i.e., a separate additive or a combined additive, canbe formulated, for example, as a granulate, liquid, slurry, etc.Preferred detergent additive formulations are granulates, in particularnon-dusting granulates, liquids, in particular stabilized liquids, orslurries.

Non-dusting granulates may be produced, e.g., as disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,106,991 and 4,661,452 and may optionally be coated by methodsknown in the art. Examples of waxy coating materials are poly(ethyleneoxide) products (polyethyleneglycol, PEG) with mean molar weights of1000 to 20000; ethoxylated nonylphenols having from 16 to 50 ethyleneoxide units; ethoxylated fatty alcohols in which the alcohol containsfrom 12 to 20 carbon atoms and in which there are 15 to 80 ethyleneoxide units; fatty alcohols; fatty acids; and mono- and di- andtriglycerides of fatty acids. Examples of film-forming coating materialssuitable for application by fluid bed techniques are given in GB1483591. Liquid enzyme preparations may, for instance, be stabilized byadding a polyol such as propylene glycol, a sugar or sugar alcohol,lactic acid or boric acid according to established methods. Protectedenzymes may be prepared according to the method disclosed in EP 238,216.

Adjunct Materials

Any detergent components known in the art for use in laundry detergentsmay also be utilized. Other optional detergent components includeanti-corrosion agents, anti-shrink agents, anti-soil redepositionagents, anti-wrinkling agents, bactericides, binders, corrosioninhibitors, disintegrants/disintegration agents, dyes, enzymestabilizers (including boric acid, borates, CMC, and/or polyols such aspropylene glycol), fabric conditioners including clays,fillers/processing aids, fluorescent whitening agents/opticalbrighteners, foam boosters, foam (suds) regulators, perfumes,soil-suspending agents, softeners, suds suppressors, tarnish inhibitors,and wicking agents, either alone or in combination. Any ingredient knownin the art for use in laundry detergents may be utilized. The choice ofsuch ingredients is well within the skill of the artisan.

Dispersants—

The detergent compositions of the present invention can also containdispersants. In particular, powdered detergents may comprisedispersants. Suitable water-soluble organic materials include the homo-or co-polymeric acids or their salts, in which the polycarboxylic acidcomprises at least two carboxyl radicals separated from each other bynot more than two carbon atoms. Suitable dispersants are for exampledescribed in Powdered Detergents, Surfactant science series volume 71,Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Dye Transfer Inhibiting Agents—

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include oneor more dye transfer inhibiting agents. Suitable polymeric dye transferinhibiting agents include, but are not limited to, polyvinylpyrrolidonepolymers, polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidoneand N-vinylimidazole, polyvinyloxazolidones and polyvinylimidazoles ormixtures thereof. When present in a subject composition, the dyetransfer inhibiting agents may be present at levels from about 0.0001%to about 10%, from about 0.01% to about 5% or even from about 0.1% toabout 3% by weight of the composition.

Fluorescent whitening agent—

The detergent compositions of the present invention will preferably alsocontain additional components that may tint articles being cleaned, suchas fluorescent whitening agent or optical brighteners. Where present thebrightener is preferably at a level of about 0.01% to about 0.5%. Anyfluorescent whitening agent suitable for use in a laundry detergentcomposition may be used in the composition of the present invention. Themost commonly used fluorescent whitening agents are those belonging tothe classes of diaminostilbene-sulphonic acid derivatives,diarylpyrazoline derivatives and bisphenyl-distyryl derivatives.Examples of the diaminostilbene-sulphonic acid derivative type offluorescent whitening agents include the sodium salts of:4,4′-bis-(2-diethanolamino-4-anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2,2′-disulphonate; 4,4′-bis-(2,4-dianilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2.2′-disulphonate;4,4′-bis-(2-anilino-4(N-methyl-N-2-hydroxy-ethylamino)-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2,2′-disulphonate,4,4′-bis-(4-phenyl-2,1,3-triazol-2-yl)stilbene-2,2′-disulphonate;4,4′-bis-(2-anilino-4(1-methyl-2-hydroxy-ethylamino)-s-triazin-6-ylamino)stilbene-2,2′-disulphonate and2-(stilbyl-4″-naptho-1,2′:4,5)-1,2,3-trizole-2″-sulphonate. Preferredfluorescent whitening agents are Tinopal DMS and Tinopal CBS availablefrom Ciba-Geigy AG, Basel, Switzerland. Tinopal DMS is the disodium saltof 4,4′-bis-(2-morpholino-4 anilino-s-triazin-6-ylamino) stilbenedisulphonate. Tinopal CBS is the disodium salt of2,2′-bis-(phenyl-styryl) disulphonate. Also preferred are fluorescentwhitening agents is the commercially available Parawhite KX, supplied byParamount Minerals and Chemicals, Mumbai, India. Other fluorescerssuitable for use in the invention include the 1-3-diaryl pyrazolines andthe 7-alkylaminocoumarins. Suitable fluorescent brightener levelsinclude lower levels of from about 0.01, from 0.05, from about 0.1 oreven from about 0.2 wt. % to upper levels of 0.5 or even 0.75 wt. %.

Soil Release Polymers—

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include oneor more soil release polymers which aid the removal of soils fromfabrics such as cotton and polyester based fabrics, in particular theremoval of hydrophobic soils from polyester based fabrics. The soilrelease polymers may for example be nonionic or anionic terephthaltebased polymers, polyvinyl caprolactam and related copolymers, vinylgraft copolymers, polyester polyamides see for example Chapter 7 inPowdered Detergents, Surfactant science series volume 71, Marcel Dekker,Inc. Another type of soil release polymers are amphiphilic alkoxylatedgrease cleaning polymers comprising a core structure and a plurality ofalkoxylate groups attached to that core structure. The core structuremay comprise a polyalkylenimine structure or a polyalkanolaminestructure as described in detail in WO 2009/087523 (hereby incorporatedby reference). Furthermore, random graft co-polymers are suitable soilrelease polymers Suitable graft co-polymers are described in more detailin WO 2007/138054, WO 2006/108856 and WO 2006/113314 (herebyincorporated by reference). Other soil release polymers are substitutedpolysaccharide structures especially substituted cellulosic structuressuch as modified cellulose deriviatives such as those described in EP1867808 or WO 2003/040279 (both are hereby incorporated by reference).Suitable cellulosic polymers include cellulose, cellulose ethers,cellulose esters, cellulose amides and mixtures thereof. Suitablecellulosic polymers include anionically modified cellulose, nonionicallymodified cellulose, cationically modified cellulose, zwitterionicallymodified cellulose, and mixtures thereof. Suitable cellulosic polymersinclude methyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose,hydroxyl ethyl cellulose, hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose, estercarboxy methyl cellulose, and mixtures thereof.

Anti-Redeposition Agents—

The detergent compositions of the present invention may also include oneor more anti-redeposition agents such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC),polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyoxyethyleneand/or polyethyleneglycol (PEG), homopolymers of acrylic acid,copolymers of acrylic acid and maleic acid, and ethoxylatedpolyethyleneimines. The cellulose based polymers described under soilrelease polymers above may also function as anti-redeposition agents.

Other suitable adjunct materials include, but are not limited to,anti-shrink agents, anti-wrinkling agents, bactericides, binders,carriers, dyes, enzyme stabilizers, fabric softeners, fillers, foamregulators, hydrotropes, perfumes, pigments, sod suppressors, solvents,structurants for liquid detergents and/or structure elasticizing agents.

Formulation of Detergent Products

The detergent composition of the invention may be in any convenientform, e.g., a bar, a homogenous tablet, a tablet having two or morelayers, a regular or compact powder, a granule, a paste, a gel, or aregular, compact or concentrated liquid.

Detergent formulation forms: Layers (same or different phases), Pouches,versus forms for Machine dosing unit.

Pouches can be configured as single or multicompartments. It can be ofany form, shape and material which is suitable for hold the composition,e.g., without allowing the release of the composition to release of thecomposition from the pouch prior to water contact. The pouch is madefrom water soluble film which encloses an inner volume. Said innervolume can be divided into compartments of the pouch. Preferred filmsare polymeric materials preferably polymers which are formed into a filmor sheet. Preferred polymers, copolymers or derivates thereof areselected polyacrylates, and water soluble acrylate copolymers, methylcellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, sodium dextrin, ethyl cellulose,hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, malto dextrin,poly methacrylates, most preferably polyvinyl alcohol copolymers and,hydroxyprpyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). Preferably the level of polymer inthe film for example PVA is at least about 60%. Preferred averagemolecular weight will typically be about 20,000 to about 150,000. Filmscan also be of blend compositions comprising hydrolytically degradableand water soluble polymer blends such as polyactide and polyvinylalcohol (known under the Trade reference M8630 as sold by Chris CraftIn. Prod. Of Gary, Ind., US) plus plasticisers like glycerol, ethyleneglycerol, Propylene glycol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof. The pouchescan comprise a solid laundry cleaning composition or part componentsand/or a liquid cleaning composition or part components separated by thewater soluble film. The compartment for liquid components can bedifferent in composition than compartments containing solids. Ref: (US2009/0011970).

Detergent ingredients can be separated physically from each other bycompartments in water dissolvable pouches or in different layers oftablets. Thereby negative storage interaction between components can beavoided. Different dissolution profiles of each of the compartments canalso give rise to delayed dissolution of selected components in the washsolution.

Definition/Characteristics of the Forms:

A liquid or gel detergent, which is not unit dosed, may be aqueous,typically containing at least 20% by weight and up to 95% water, such asup to about 70% water, up to about 65% water, up to about 55% water, upto about 45% water, up to about 35% water. Other types of liquids,including without limitation, alkanols, amines, diols, ethers andpolyols may be included in an aqueous liquid or gel. An aqueous liquidor gel detergent may contain from 0-30% organic solvent.

A liquid or gel detergent may be non-aqueous, the term non-aqueous is inthe present context defined as a water content below 15%, e.g., below10% or even below 5% of the total volume.

Granular Detergent Formulations

A granular detergent may be formulated as described in WO 2009/092699,EP 1705241, EP 1382668, WO 2007/001262, U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,364, WO2004/074419 or WO 2009/102854. Other useful detergent formulations aredescribed in WO 2009/124162, WO 2009/124163, WO 2009/117340, WO2009/117341, WO 2009/117342, WO 2009/072069, WO 2009/063355, WO2009/132870, WO 2009/121757, WO 2009/112296, WO 2009/112298, WO2009/103822, WO 2009/087033, WO 2009/050026, WO 2009/047125, WO2009/047126, WO 2009/047127, WO 2009/047128, WO 2009/021784, WO2009/010375, WO 2009/000605, WO 2009/122125, WO 2009/095645, WO2009/040544, WO 2009/040545, WO 2009/024780, WO 2009/004295, WO2009/004294, WO 2009/121725, WO 2009/115391, WO 2009/115392, WO2009/074398, WO 2009/074403, WO 2009/068501, WO 2009/065770, WO2009/021813, WO 2009/030632, WO 2009/015951, WO 2011/025615, WO2011/016958, WO 2011/005803, WO 2011/005623, WO 2011/005730, WO2011/005844, WO 2011/005904, WO 2011/005630, WO 2011/005830, WO2011/005912, WO 2011/005905, WO 2011/005910, WO 2011/005813, WO2010/135238, WO 2010/120863, WO 2010/108002, WO 2010/111365, WO2010/108000, WO 2010/107635, WO 2010/090915, WO 2010/033976, WO2010/033746, WO 2010/033747, WO 2010/033897, WO 2010/033979, WO2010/030540, WO 2010/030541, WO 2010/030539, WO 2010/024467, WO2010/024469, WO 2010/024470, WO 2010/025161, WO 2010/014395, WO2010/044905, WO 2010/145887, WO 2010/142503, WO 2010/122051, WO2010/102861, WO 2010/099997, WO 2010/084039, WO 2010/076292, WO2010/069742, WO 2010/069718, WO 2010/069957, WO 2010/057784, WO2010/054986, WO 2010/018043, WO 2010/003783, WO 2010/003792, WO2011/023716, WO 2010/142539, WO 2010/118959, WO 2010/115813, WO2010/105942, WO 2010/105961, WO 2010/105962, WO 2010/094356, WO2010/084203, WO 2010/078979, WO 2010/072456, WO 2010/069905, WO2010/076165, WO 2010/072603, WO 2010/066486, WO 2010/066631, WO2010/066632, WO 2010/063689, WO 2010/060821, WO 2010/049187, WO2010/031607, WO 2010/000636.

Uses

The present invention is also directed to methods for using thecompositions thereof in laundry of textilea and fabrics, such as household laundry washing and industrial laundry washing.

The invention is also directed to methods for using the compositionsthereof in hard surface cleaning such as automated Dish Washing (ADW),car wash and cleaning of Industrial surfaces.

Use in Detergents.

The polypeptides of the present invention may be added to and thusbecome a component of a detergent composition.

The detergent composition of the present invention may be formulated,for example, as a hand or machine laundry detergent compositionincluding a laundry additive composition suitable for pre-treatment ofstained fabrics and a rinse added fabric softener composition, or beformulated as a detergent composition for use in general household hardsurface cleaning operations, or be formulated for hand or machinedishwashing operations.

In a specific aspect, the present invention provides a detergentadditive comprising a polypeptide of the present invention as describedherein.

Use of Proteases of the Invention in Detergents

The soils and stains that are important for detergent formulators arecomposed of many different substances, and a range of different enzymes,all with different substrate specificities have been developed for usein detergents both in relation to laundry and hard surface cleaning,such as dishwashing. These enzymes are considered to provide an enzymedetergency benefit, since they specifically improve stain removal in thecleaning process they are applied in as compared to the same processwithout enzymes. Stain removing enzymes that are known in the artinclude enzymes such as carbohydrases, amylases, proteases, lipases,cellulases, hemicellulases, xylanases, cutinases, and pectinase.

In one aspect, the present invention concerns the use of protease of theinvention in detergent compositions and cleaning processes, such aslaundry and hard surface cleaning. Thus, in one aspect, the presentinvention demonstrates the detergency effect of a variety of exemplaryproteases of the invention on various stains and under variousconditions. In a particular aspect of the invention the detergentcomposition and the use in cleaning process concerns the use of aprotease of the invention together with at least one of the abovementioned stain removal enzymes.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the protease of theinvention useful according to the invention may be combined with atleast two enzymes. These additional enzymes are described in details inthe section “other enzymes”, more preferred at least three, four or fiveenzymes. Preferably, the enzymes have different substrate specificity,e.g., carbolytic activity, proteolytic activity, amylolytic activity,lipolytic activity, hemicellulytic activity or pectolytic activity. Theenzyme combination may for example be a protease of the invention withanother stain removing enzyme, e.g., a protease of the invention and anamylase, a protease of the invention and a cellulase, a protease of theinvention and a hemicellulase, a protease of the invention and a lipase,a protease of the invention and a cutinase, a protease of the inventionand a pectinase or a protease of the invention and an anti-redepositionenzyme. More preferably, the protease of the invention is combined withat least two other stain removing enzymes, e.g., a protease of theinvention, a lipase and an amylase; or a protease of the invention, anamylase and a pectinase; or a protease of the invention, an amylase anda cutinase; or a protease of the invention, an amylase and a cellulase;or a protease of the invention, an amylase and a hemicellulase; or aprotease of the invention, a lipase and a pectinase; or a protease ofthe invention, a lipase and a cutinase; or a protease of the invention,a lipase and a cellulase; or a protease of the invention, a lipase and ahemicellulase. Even more preferably, a protease of the invention may becombined with at least three other stain removing enzymes, e.g., aprotease of the invention, an amylase, a lipase and a pectinase; or aprotease of the invention, an amylase, a lipase and a cutinase; or aprotease of the invention, an amylase, a lipase and a cellulase; or aprotease of the invention, an amylase, a lipase and a hemicellulase. Aprotease of the invention may be combined with any of the enzymesselected from the non-exhaustive list comprising: carbohydrases, such asan amylase, a hemicellulase, a pectinase, a cellulase, a xanthanase or apullulanase, a peptidase, other proteases or a lipase.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a protease of theinvention may be combined with one or more metalloproteases, such as aM4 Metalloprotease, including Neutrase™ or Thermolysin. Suchcombinations may further comprise combinations of the other detergentenzymes as outlined above.

The cleaning process or the textile care process may for example be alaundry process, a dishwashing process or cleaning of hard surfaces suchas bathroom tiles, floors, table tops, drains, sinks and washbasins.Laundry processes can for example be household laundering, but it mayalso be industrial laundering. Furthermore, the invention relates to aprocess for laundering of fabrics and/or garments where the processcomprises treating fabrics with a washing solution containing adetergent composition, and at least one protease of the invention. Thecleaning process or a textile care process can for example be carriedout in a machine washing process or in a manual washing process. Thewashing solution can for example be an aqueous washing solutioncontaining a detergent composition.

The fabrics and/or garments subjected to a washing, cleaning or textilecare process of the present invention may be conventional washablelaundry, for example household laundry. Preferably, the major part ofthe laundry is garments and fabrics, including knits, woven, denims,non-woven, felts, yarns, and towelling. The fabrics may be cellulosebased such as natural cellulosics, including cotton, flax, linen, jute,ramie, sisal or coir or manmade cellulosics (e.g., originating from woodpulp) including viscose/rayon, ramie, cellulose acetate fibers(tricell), lyocell or blends thereof. The fabrics may also benon-cellulose based such as natural polyamides including wool, camel,cashmere, mohair, rabit and silk or synthetic polymer such as nylon,aramid, polyester, acrylic, polypropylen and spandex/elastane, or blendsthereof as well as blend of cellulose based and non-cellulose basedfibers. Examples of blends are blends of cotton and/or rayon/viscosewith one or more companion material such as wool, synthetic fibers(e.g., polyamide fibers, acrylic fibers, polyester fibers, polyvinylalcohol fibers, polyvinyl chloride fibers, polyurethane fibers, polyureafibers, aramid fibers), and cellulose-containing fibers (e.g.,rayon/viscose, ramie, flax, linen, jute, cellulose acetate fibers,lyocell).

The last few years there has been an increasing interest in replacingcomponents in detergents, which is derived from petrochemicals withrenewable biological components such as enzymes and polypeptides withoutcompromising the wash performance. When the components of detergentcompositions change new enzyme activities or new enzymes havingalternative and/or improved properties compared to the common useddetergent enzymes such as proteases, lipases and amylases is needed toachieve a similar or improved wash performance when compared to thetraditional detergent compositions.

The invention further concerns the use of proteases of the invention aproteinaceous stain removing processes. The proteinaceous stains may bestains such as food stains, e.g., baby food, sebum, cocoa, egg, blood,milk, ink, grass, or a combination hereof.

Typical detergent compositions include various components in addition tothe enzymes, these components have different effects, some componentslike the surfactants lower the surface tension in the detergent, whichallows the stain being cleaned to be lifted and dispersed and thenwashed away, other components like bleach systems removes discolor oftenby oxidation and many bleaches also have strong bactericidal properties,and are used for disinfecting and sterilizing. Yet other components likebuilder and chelator softens, e.g., the wash water by removing the metalions form the liquid.

In a particular embodiment, the invention concerns the use of acomposition comprising a protease of the invention, wherein said enzymecomposition further comprises at least one or more of the following asurfactant, a builder, a chelator or chelating agent, bleach system orbleach component in laundry or dish wash.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the amount of a surfactant,a builder, a chelator or chelating agent, bleach system and/or bleachcomponent are reduced compared to amount of surfactant, builder,chelator or chelating agent, bleach system and/or bleach component usedwithout the added protease of the invention. Preferably the at least onecomponent which is a surfactant, a builder, a chelator or chelatingagent, bleach system and/or bleach component is present in an amountthat is 1% less, such as 2% less, such as 3% less, such as 4% less, suchas 5% less, such as 6% less, such as 7% less, such as 8% less, such as9% less, such as 10% less, such as 15% less, such as 20% less, such as25% less, such as 30% less, such as 35% less, such as 40% less, such as45% less, such as 50% less than the amount of the component in thesystem without the addition of protease of the invention, such as aconventional amount of such component. In one aspect, the proteases ofthe invention is used in detergent compositions wherein said compositionis free of at least one component which is a surfactant, a builder, achelator or chelating agent, bleach system or bleach component and/orpolymer.

Thus, one embodiment of the invention relates to the use in a detergentor in a cleaning process of a polypeptide having a sequence identity tothe mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 of at least 60%, e.g., at least65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least99%, or 100%, which have protease activity. In one aspect, thepolypeptides differ by no more than ten amino acids, e.g., by five aminoacids, by four amino acids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids,and by one amino acid from the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Another embodiment of the invention relates to the use in a detergent orin a cleaning process of a polypeptide having a sequence identity to themature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%,at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or100%, which have protease activity. In one aspect, the polypeptidesdiffer by no more than ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, byfour amino acids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids, and by oneamino acid from the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4.

A third embodiment of the invention relates to the use in a detergent orin a cleaning process of a polypeptide having a sequence identity to themature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6 of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%,at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, atleast 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or100%, which have protease activity. In one aspect, the polypeptidesdiffer by no more than ten amino acids, e.g., by five amino acids, byfour amino acids, by three amino acids, by two amino acids, and by oneamino acid from the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6.

Washing Method

The detergent compositions of the present invention are ideally suitedfor use in laundry applications. Accordingly, the present inventionincludes a method for laundering a fabric. The method comprises thesteps of contacting a fabric to be laundered with a cleaning laundrysolution comprising the detergent compositions according to theinvention. The fabric may comprise any fabric capable of being launderedin normal consumer use conditions. The solution preferably has a pH offrom about 5.5 to about 8. The compositions may be employed atconcentrations of from about 100 ppm, preferably 500 ppm to about 15,000ppm in solution. The water temperatures typically range from about 5° C.to about 90° C., including about 10° C., about 15° C., about 20° C.,about 25°, about 30° C., about 35° C., about 40° C., about 45° C., about50° C., about 55° C., about 60° C., about 65° C., about 70° C., about75° C., about 80° C., about 85° C. and about 90° C. The water to fabricratio is typically from about 1:1 to about 30:1.

In particular embodiments, the washing method is conducted at a pH offrom about 5.0 to about 11.5, or in alternative embodiments, even fromabout 6 to about 10.5, such as about 5 to about 11, about 5 to about 10,about 5 to about 9, about 5 to about 8, about 5 to about 7, about 5.5 toabout 11, about 5.5 to about 10, about 5.5 to about 9, about 5.5 toabout 8, about 5.5. to about 7, about 6 to about 11, about 6 to about10, about 6 to about 9, about 6 to about 8, about 6 to about 7, about6.5 to about 11, about 6.5 to about 10, about 6.5 to about 9, about 6.5to about 8, about 6.5 to about 7, about 7 to about 11, about 7 to about10, about 7 to about 9, or about 7 to about 8, preferably about 5.5 toabout 9, and more preferably about 6 to about 8.

In particular embodiments, the washing method is conducted at a degreeof hardness of from about 0° dH to about 30° dH, such as about 1° dH,about 2° dH, about 3° dH, about 4° dH, about 5° dH, about 6° dH, about7° dH, about 8° dH, about 9° dH, about 10° dH, about 11° dH, about 12°dH, about 13° dH, about 14° dH, about 15° dH, about 16° dH, about 17°dH, about 18° dH, about 19° dH, about 20° dH, about 21° dH, about 22°dH, about 23° dH, about 24° dH, about 25° dH, about 26° dH, about 27°dH, about 28° dH, about 29° dH, about 30° dH. Under typical Europeanwash conditions, the degree of hardness is about 15° dH, under typicalUS wash conditions about 6° dH, and under typical Asian wash conditions,about 3° dH.

The present invention relates to a method of cleaning a fabric, adishware or hard surface with detergent compositions comprising theproteases of the invention, i.e., proteases with at least 60% identityto SEQ ID NO 2 or SEQ ID NO 4.

A preferred embodiment concerns a method of cleaning, said methodcomprising the steps of: contacting an object with a cleaningcomposition comprising a protease of the invention under conditionssuitable for cleaning said object. In a preferred embodiment thecleaning composition is a detergent composition and the process is alaundry or a dish wash process.

Still another embodiment relates to a method for removing stains fromfabric which comprises contacting said a fabric with a compositioncomprising a protease of the invention under conditions suitable forcleaning said object.

In a preferred embodiment, the compositions for use in the methods abovefurther comprises at least one additional enzyme as set forth in the“other enzymes” section above, such as an enzyme selected from the groupconsisting of carbohydrases, peptidases, proteases, lipases, cellulase,xylanases or cutinases or a combination hereof. In yet another preferredembodiment the compositions comprises a reduced amount of at least oneor more of the following components a surfactant, a builder, a chelatoror chelating agent, bleach system or bleach component or a polymer.

Also, contemplated are compositions and methods of treating fabrics(e.g., to desize a textile) using one or more of the proteases of theinvention. The proteases can be used in any fabric-treating method whichis well known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,077,316). Forexample, in one aspect, the feel and appearance of a fabric is improvedby a method comprising contacting the fabric with proteases in asolution. In one aspect, the fabric is treated with the solution underpressure.

In one embodiment, the proteases are applied during or after the weavingof textiles, or during the desizing stage, or one or more additionalfabric processing steps. During the weaving of textiles, the threads areexposed to considerable mechanical strain. Prior to weaving onmechanical looms, warp yarns are often coated with sizing starch orstarch derivatives in order to increase their tensile strength and toprevent breaking. The proteases can be applied to remove these sizingprotein or protein derivatives. After the textiles have been woven, afabric can proceed to a desizing stage. This can be followed by one ormore additional fabric processing steps. Desizing is the act of removingsize from textiles. After weaving, the size coating should be removedbefore further processing the fabric in order to ensure a homogeneousand wash-proof result. Also provided is a method of desizing comprisingenzymatic hydrolysis of the size by the action of an enzyme.

Low Temperature Uses

It was surprising found that the proteases of the present invention—wereactually performing relatively better at low temperature, e.g.,temperatures of about 40° C. or below than at higher temperatures, e.g.,of about 60° C. or above when tested in AMSA as described in the belowExamples.

Moreover, in a particularly preferred embodiment the proteases of theinvention perform relatively better than a well known subtilisinprotease such as Savinase at a wash temperature of about 40° C. or belowwhen tested in AMSA as described herein.

Thus, in one embodiment of the invention concerns a method of doinglaundry, dish wash or industrial cleaning comprising contacting asurface to be cleaned with a protease of the invention, and wherein saidlaundry, dish wash, industrial or institutional cleaning is performed ata temperature of about 40° C. or below. One embodiment of the inventionrelates to the use of a protease of the invention in laundry, dish washor a cleaning process wherein the temperature in laundry, dish wash,industrial cleaning is about 40° C. or below.

In another embodiment, the invention concerns the use of a protease ofthe invention in a protein removing process, wherein the temperature inthe protein removing process is about 40° C. or below.

The present invention also relates to the use in laundry, dish wash orindustrial cleaning process of a protease of the invention having atleast one improved property compared to Savinase and wherein thetemperature in laundry, dish wash or cleaning process is performed at atemperature of about 40° C. or below.

In each of the above-identified methods and uses, the wash temperatureis about 40° C. or below, such as about 39° C. or below, such as about38° C. or below, such as about 37° C. or below, such as about 36° C. orbelow, such as about 35° C. or below, such as about 34° C. or below,such as about 33° C. or below, such as about 32° C. or below, such asabout 31° C. or below, such as about 30° C. or below, such as about 29°C. or below, such as about 28° C. or below, such as about 27° C. orbelow, such as about 26° C. or below, such as about 25° C. or below,such as about 24° C. or below, such as about 23° C. or below, such asabout 22° C. or below, such as about 21° C. or below, such as about 20°C. or below, such as about 19° C. or below, such as about 18° C. orbelow, such as about 17° C. or below, such as about 16° C. or below,such as about 15° C. or below, such as about 14° C. or below, such asabout 13° C. or below, such as about 12° C. or below, such as about 11°C. or below, such as about 10° C. or below, such as about 9° C. orbelow, such as about 8° C. or below, such as about 7° C. or below, suchas about 6° C. or below, such as about 5° C. or below, such as about 4°C. or below, such as about 3° C. or below, such as about 2° C. or below,such as about 1° C. or below.

In another preferred embodiment, the wash temperature is in the range ofabout 5-40° C., such as about 5-30° C., about 5-20° C., about 5-10° C.,about 10-40° C., about 10-30° C., about 10-20° C., about 15-40° C.,about 15-30° C., about 15-20° C., about 20-40° C., about 20-30° C.,about 25-40° C., about 25-30° C., or about 30-40° C. In a particularpreferred embodiment, the wash temperature is about 30° C.

In particular embodiments, the low temperature washing method isconducted at a pH of from about 5.0 to about 11.5, or in alternativeembodiments, even from about 6 to about 10.5, such as about 5 to about11, about 5 to about 10, about 5 to about 9, about 5 to about 8, about 5to about 7, about 5.5 to about 11, about 5.5 to about 10, about 5.5 toabout 9, about 5.5 to about 8, about 5.5. to about 7, about 6 to about11, about 6 to about 10, about 6 to about 9, about 6 to to about 8,about 6 to about 7, about 6.5 to about 11, about 6.5 to about 10, about6.5 to about 9, about 6.5 to about 8, about 6.5 to about 7, about 7 toabout 11, about 7 to about 10, about 7 to about 9, or about 7 to about8, preferably about 5.5 to about 9, and more preferably about 6 to about8.

In particular embodiments, the low temperature washing method isconducted at a degree of hardness of from about 0° dH to about 30° dH,such as about 1° dH, about 2° dH, about 3° dH, about 4° dH, about 5° dH,about 6° dH, about 7° dH, about 8° dH, about 9° dH, about 10° dH, about11° dH, about 12° dH, about 13° dH, about 14° dH, about 15° dH, about16° dH, about 17° dH, about 18° dH, about 19° dH, about 20° dH, about21° dH, about 22° dH, about 23° dH, about 24° dH, about 25° dH, about26° dH, about 27° dH, about 28° dH, about 29° dH, about 30° dH. Undertypical European wash conditions, the degree of hardness is about 15°dH, under typical US wash conditions about 6° dH, and under typicalAsian wash conditions, about 3° dH.

Signal Peptide and Propeptide

The present invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotideencoding a signal peptide comprising or consisting of amino acids −169to −144 of SEQ ID NO: 2 or amino acids −160 to −132 of SEQ ID NO: 4. Thepresent invention also relates to an isolated polynucleotide encoding apropeptide comprising or consisting of amino acids −143 to −1 of SEQ IDNO: 2 or amino acids −131 to −1 of SEQ ID NO 4. The present inventionalso relates to an isolated polynucleotide encoding a signal peptide anda propeptide comprising or consisting of amino acids −169 to −1 of SEQID NO: 2 or amino acids −160 to −1 of SEQ ID NO: 4. The polynucleotidesmay further comprise a gene encoding a protein, which is operably linkedto the signal peptide and/or propeptide. The protein is preferablyforeign to the signal peptide and/or propeptide.

The present invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs,expression vectors and recombinant host cells comprising suchpolynucleotides.

The present invention also relates to methods of producing a protein,comprising: (a) cultivating a recombinant host cell comprising suchpolynucleotide; and (b) recovering the protein.

The protein may be native or heterologous to a host cell. The term“protein” is not meant herein to refer to a specific length of theencoded product and, therefore, encompasses peptides, oligopeptides, andproteins. The term “protein” also encompasses two or more polypeptidescombined to form the encoded product. The proteins also include hybridpolypeptides and fused polypeptides.

Preferably, the protein is a hormone or variant thereof, enzyme,receptor or portion thereof, antibody or portion thereof, or reporter.For example, the protein may be an oxidoreductase, transferase,hydrolase, lyase, isomerase, or ligase such as an aminopeptidase,amylase, carbohydrase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, chitinase,cutinase, cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, deoxyribonuclease, esterase,alpha-galactosidase, beta-galactosidase, glucoamylase,alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase, invertase, laccase, another lipase,mannosidase, mutanase, oxidase, pectinolytic enzyme, peroxidase,phytase, polyphenoloxidase, proteolytic enzyme, ribonuclease,transglutaminase or xylanase.

The gene may be obtained from any prokaryotic, eukaryotic, or othersource.

The present invention is further described by the following examplesthat should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Strains

Bacillus sp. 18132, isolated from an environmental sand sample collectedin the United States. Bacillus borgouniensis, isolated from Indian soilsample. Public sequence Paenibacillus dendritiformis strain availablefrom German culture collection (DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany) as strainDSM 18844.

Wash Assays Automatic Mechanical Stress Assay (AMSA) for Laundry

In order to assess the wash performance in laundry washing experimentsare performed, using the Automatic Mechanical Stress Assay (AMSA). Withthe AMSA, the wash performance of a large quantity of small volumeenzyme-detergent solutions can be examined. The AMSA plate has a numberof slots for test solutions and a lid firmly squeezing the laundrysample, the textile to be washed against all the slot openings. Duringthe washing time, the plate, test solutions, textile and lid arevigorously shaken to bring the test solution in contact with the textileand apply mechanical stress in a regular, periodic oscillating manner.For further description see WO 02/42740 especially the paragraph“Special method embodiments” at pages 23-24.

The wash performance is measured as the brightness of the colour of thetextile washed. Brightness can also be expressed as the intensity of thelight reflected from the sample when illuminated with white light. Whenthe sample is stained the intensity of the reflected light is lower,than that of a clean sample. Therefore, the intensity of the reflectedlight can be used to measure wash performance.

Colour measurements are made with a professional flatbed scanner (KodakiQsmart, Kodak, Midtager 29, DK-2605 Brondby, Denmark), which is used tocapture an image of the washed textile.

To extract a value for the light intensity from the scanned images,24-bit pixel values from the image are converted into values for red,green and blue (RGB). The intensity value (Int) is calculated by addingthe RGB values together as vectors and then taking the length of theresulting vector:

Int=√{square root over (r ² +g ² +b ²)}.

Mini Wash Assay for Laundry

Wash performance is assessed in laundry wash experiment using Mini washassay, which is a test method, where soiled textile continuously islifted up and down into the test solution and subsequently rinsed.

The washed and rinsed soiled textiles are subsequently air-dried and thewash performance is measured as the brightness of the color of thesetextiles. Brightness can also be expressed as the Remission (R), whichis a measure for the light reflected or emitted from the test materialwhen illuminated with white light. The Remission (R) of the textiles ismeasured at 460 nm using a Zeiss MCS 521 VIS spectrophotometer. Themeasurements are done according to the manufacturer's protocol.

TABLE 1 Composition of model detergent and test materials Laundry liquidWater 30.63% model detergent B Sodium hydroxide 2.95%Dodecylbenzensulfonic acid 11.52% Fatty acids (Soya) 5.50%Propane-1,2-diol (MPG) 5.05% Water 17.38% C13-alcohol ethoxylate, 10.50%Diethylenetriaminepentakis (methylenephosphonic acid) (DTMPA) 3.08%Triethanolamine (TEA) 2.22% Fatty acids (Coco) 4.50% Sodium citratemonohydrate 1.00% Ethanol 4.63% Syntran 5909 (opacifier) 0.30% Perfume0.35% Test material PC-03 (Chocolate-milk/ink on cotton/polyester) C-10(Oil/milk/pigment on cotton) PC-05 (Blood/milk/ink on cotton/polyester)EMPA117EH (Blood/milk/ink on cotton/polyester)

Test materials are obtained from Center For Testmaterials BV, P.O. Box120, 3133 KT Vlaardingen, the Netherlands and EMPA Testmaterials AG,Mövenstrasse 12, CH-9015 St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Enzyme Assays Protease Assays 1) Suc-AAPF-pNA Assay:

-   pNA substrate: Suc-AAPF-pNA (Bachem L-1400).-   Temperature: Room temperature (25° C.)-   Assay buffers: 100 mM succinic acid, 100 mM HEPES, 100 mM CHES, 100    mM CABS, 1 mM CaCl₂, 150 mM KCl, 0.01% Triton X-100 adjusted to    pH-values 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, and 11.0    with HCl or NaOH.-   Assay buffer with 1 mM EDTA: 100 mM succinic acid, 100 mM HEPES, 100    mM CHES, 100 mM CABS, 1 mM EDTA, 150 mM KCl, 0.01% Triton X-100, pH    7.0.

20 μl protease (diluted in 0.01% Triton X-100) was mixed with 100 μlassay buffer. The assay was started by adding 100 μl pNA substrate (50mg dissolved in 1.0 ml DMSO and further diluted 45× with 0.01% TritonX-100). The increase in OD₄₀₅ was monitored as a measure of the proteaseactivity.

2) Protazyme AK Assay:

-   Substrate: Protazyme AK tablet (cross-linked and dyed casein; from    Megazyme)-   Temperature: controlled (assay temperature).-   Assay buffer: 100 mM succinic acid, 100 mM HEPES, 100 mM CHES, 100    mM CABS, 1 mM CaCl₂, 150 mM KCl, 0.01% Triton X-100, pH 7.0.

A Protazyme AK tablet was suspended in 2.0 ml 0.01% Triton X-100 bygentle stirring. 500 μl of this suspension and 500 μl assay buffer weredispensed in an Eppendorf tube and placed on ice. 20 μl protease sample(diluted in 0.01% Triton X-100) was added. The assay was initiated bytransferring the Eppendorf tube to an Eppendorf thermomixer, which wasset to the assay temperature. The tube was incubated for 15 minutes onthe Eppendorf thermomixer at its highest shaking rate (1400 rpm.). Theincubation was stopped by transferring the tube back to the ice bath.Then the tube was centrifuged in an ice cold centrifuge for a fewminutes and 200 μl supernatant was transferred to a microtiter plate.OD₆₅₀ was read as a measure of protease activity. A buffer blind wasincluded in the assay (instead of enzyme).

Example 1: Preparation of Protease Identification of Protease CondingGene

The alkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus sp. 18132 was found to reactpositive on agar plates containing casein as substrate. For thediscovery of the protease gene, the genomic DNA of Bacillus sp. 18132was sequenced and a serine S8 family protease gene having the sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 1, was discovered by homology searches in public proteindatabases, a technique that is known by the person skilled in the art.The encoded protease having SEQ ID NO: 2 was found to be closest relatedto the public protein sequence from Paenibacillus dendritiformis havingthe accession number SWISSPROT: D0EVD2. The enzyme properties ofPaenibacillus dendritiformis protease are not known to-date, enzymeproperties of Bacillus sp. 18132 are disclosed here.

The alkaliphilic bacterium Bacillus bogoriensis 01878 was found to reactpositive on agar plates containing casein as substrate. For thediscovery of the protease gene, the genomic DNA of Bacillus bogoriensis01878 was sequenced and a serine S8 family protease gene having thesequence of SEQ ID NO: 3, was discovered by homology searches in publicprotein databases, a technique that is known by the person skilled inthe art. The encoded protease having SEQ ID NO: 4 was found to beclosest related to the public protein sequence from Paenibacillusdendritiformis having the accession number SWISSPROT: D0EVD2. The enzymeproperties of Paenibacillus dendritiformis protease are not knownto-date, enzyme properties of Bacillus bogoriensis 01878 are disclosedhere.

The strain Paenibacillus dendritiformis DSM18844 was obtained from theGerman Collection of microorganisms and cell cultures (DSMZ,Braunschweig, Germany) and used as the donor for the above mentionedprotease SWISSPROT: D0EVD2.

Cloning and Expression of Proteases Bacillus sp. 18132 and BacillusBorgouniensis

The signal peptide from the alkaline protease from B. clausii (aprH) wasfused by SOE PCR fusion as described in WO 99/43835 (hereby incorporatedby reference) in frame to the DNA encoding the protease. To amplify thecoding DNA, genomic DNA of Bacillus sp. 18132 was used as template andthe oligomers C15U1f and C15U1r to amplify the gene by PCR.

C15U1f: (SEQ ID NO: 7) GTTCATCGATCGCATCGGCTGATGATATGAAGAAAGAAGACTATATTGC6224f: (SEQ ID NO: 8) CCAAGGCCGGTTTTTTATGTTTTATTGTAATCGAAAAGATGTTGTT

To amplify the coding DNA, genomic DNA of Bacillus borgouniensis wasused as template and the oligomers C57J6f and C57J6r to amplify the geneby PCR.

Primer C57J6f: (SEQ ID NO 9)CTTTTAGTTCATCGATCGCATCGGCTTCGAAAGGTAAAAATAACGGT Primer C57J6r:(SEQ ID NO 10) CCAAGGCCGGTTTTTTATGTTTTAGTTTATGACAAAGCTCGTand the derived PCR product was fused to expression cassette elements.The protease gene from Bacillus sp. 18132 and Bacillus borgouniensis wasexpressed by control of a triple promoter system consisting of thepromoters from Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase gene (amyL),Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase gene (amyQ), and the Bacillusthuringiensis cryIIIA promoter including stabilizing sequence. Theexpression cassette has been described in WO 99/43835. Furthermore, theexpression cassette contained a terminator (term) sequence and a genecoding for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cam) which was used asselection maker (as described in (Diderichsen et al., 1993, Plasmid 30:312-315) for B. subtilis.

The fused gene fragment (SEQ ID NO: 11 and SEQ ID NO: 12 that was partof the complete expression cassette described above was transformed intoB. subtilis and the protease gene was integrated into the Bacillussubtilis chromosome by homologous recombination into the pectate lyasegene locus (WO 99/43835).

Chloramphenicol resistant transformants were analyzed by DNA sequencingto verify the correct DNA sequence of the construct. The translatedprotein sequence corresponds to SEQ ID NOs: 2 and 4, where the first 27amino acids correspond to the B. clausii aprH signal peptide, aminoacids −143 to −1 are part of a pro-peptide of the protease and aminoacids 1-275 correspond to the mature protease S8 domain.

One expression clone was selected and was cultivated on a rotary shakingtable in 500 mL baffled Erlenmeyer flasks each containing 100 ml caseinbased media supplemented with 34 mg/I chloramphenicol. The clone wascultivated for 4 days at 37° C.

Example 2: Purification and Characterization of the ProteasesPurification of the S8A Protease from Bacillus sp. NN018132

The culture broth was centrifuged (20000×g, 20 min) and the supernatantwas carefully decanted from the precipitate. The supernatant wasfiltered through a Nalgene 0.2 μm filtration unit in order to remove therest of the Bacillus host cells. Solid ammonium sulphate was added tothe 0.2 μm filtrate to a final ammonium sulfate concentration of 1.5 M(NH₄)₂SO₄. The solution became slightly turbid and was again filteredthrough a Nalgene 0.2 μm filtration unit. The clear filtrate was appliedto a Phenyl-sepharose FF (high sub) column (from GE Healthcare)equilibrated in 20 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂, 1.5 M (NH₄)₂SO₄, pH 7.0. Afterwashing the column extensively with the equilibration buffer, theprotease was eluted with a linear gradient over three column volumesbetween the equilibration buffer and 20 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 7.0with 25% (v/v) 2-propanol. Fractions from the column were analyzed forprotease activity (using the Suc-AAPF-pNA assay at pH 9). The proteasepeak was pooled and the pool was transferred to 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM MES,2 mM CaCl₂, pH 6.0 on a G25 Sephadex column (from GE Healthcare). TheG25 sephadex transferred enzyme was applied to a SP-sepharose FF column(from GE Healthcare) equilibrated in 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM MES, 2 mMCaCl₂, pH 6.0. After washing the column extensively with theequilibration buffer, the protease was eluted with a linear NaClgradient (0-->0.5 M) in the same buffer over five column volumes.Fractions from the column were analyzed for protease activity (using theSuc-AAPF-pNA assay at pH 9) and active fractions were further analyzedby SDS-PAGE. Fractions, where only one band was seen on the coomassiestained SDS-PAGE gel, were pooled as the purified preparation and wasused for further characterization.

Purification of the S8A Protease from Paenibacillus dendritiformis

The culture broth was centrifuged (20000×g, 20 min) and the supernatantwas carefully decanted from the precipitate. The supernatant wasfiltered through a Nalgene 0.2 μm filtration unit in order to remove therest of the Bacillus host cells. Solid ammonium sulphate was added tothe 0.2 μm filtrate to a final ammonium sulphate concentration of 1.2 M(NH₄)₂SO₄. The solution was applied to a SOURCE Phenyl column (from GEHealthcare) equilibrated in 20 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂, 1.2 M (NH₄)₂SO₄, pH7.0. After washing the column extensively with the equilibration buffer,the protease was eluted with a linear gradient over eight column volumesbetween the equilibration buffer and 20 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 7.0with 25% (v/v) 2-propanol. Fractions from the column were analyzed forprotease activity (using the Suc-AAPF-pNA assay at pH 9). The proteasepeak was pooled and the pool was transferred to 20 mM succinicacid/NaOH, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 5.0 on a G25 Sephadex column (from GEHealthcare). The G25 sephadex transferred enzyme was applied to aSP-sepharose FF column (from GE Healthcare) equilibrated in 20 mMsuccinic acid/NaOH, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 5.0. After washing the columnextensively with the equilibration buffer, the protease was eluted witha linear NaCl gradient (0-->0.5 M) in the same buffer over five columnvolumes. Fractions from the column were analyzed for protease activity(using the Suc-AAPF-pNA assay at pH 9) and active fractions were furtheranalyzed by SDS-PAGE. Fractions, where one major dominant band was seenon the coomassie stained SDS-PAGE gel, were pooled and the pool wastransferred to 20 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 7.0 on a G25 Sephadex column(from GE Healthcare). The G25 sephadex transferred protease was thepurified preparation and was used for further characterization.

Purification of the S8A Protease from Bacillus bogoriensis

The culture broth was centrifuged (20000×g, 20 min) and the supernatantwas carefully decanted from the precipitate. The supernatant wasfiltered through a Nalgene 0.2 μm filtration unit in order to remove therest of the Bacillus host cells. Solid ammonium sulphate was added tothe 0.2 μm filtrate to a final ammonium sulphate concentration of 2.0 M(NH₄)₂SO₄. The solution became slightly turbid and was again filteredthrough a Nalgene 0.2 μm filtration unit. The clear filtrate was appliedto a SOURCE Phenyl column (from GE Healthcare) equilibrated in 20 mMHEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂, 2.0 M (NH₄)₂SO₄, pH 7.0. After washing the columnextensively with the equilibration buffer, the protease was eluted witha linear gradient over eight column volumes between the equilibrationbuffer and 20 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 7.0 with 25% (v/v) 2-propanol.Fractions from the column were analyzed for protease activity (using theSuc-AAPF-pNA assay at pH 9). The protease peak was pooled and the poolwas transferred to 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM MES, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 6.0 on a G25Sephadex column (from GE Healthcare). The G25 sephadex transferredenzyme was applied to a SP-sepharose FF column (from GE Healthcare)equilibrated in 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM MES, 2 mM CaCl₂, pH 6.0. Afterwashing the column extensively with the equilibration buffer, theprotease was eluted with a linear NaCl gradient (0-->0.5 M) in the samebuffer over five column volumes. Fractions from the column were analyzedfor protease activity (using the Suc-AAPF-pNA assay at pH 9) and activefractions were further analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Fractions, where one majordominant band was seen on the coomassie stained SDS-PAGE gel, werepooled and the pool was transferred to 100 mM H₃BO₃, 10 mM MES, 2 mMCaCl₂, pH 6.0 on a G25 Sephadex column (from GE Healthcare). The G25sephadex transferred protease was the purified preparation and was usedfor further characterization.

Characterization of the S8A Protease from Bacillus sp. NN018132,Bacillus Borgouniensis and Paenibacillus dendritiformis

The Suc-AAPF-pNA assay was used for obtaining the pH-activity profileand the pH-stability profile (residual activity after 2 hours atindicated pH-values). For the pH-stability profile the protease wasdiluted 20× in the different Assay buffers to reach the pH-values ofthese buffers and then incubated for 2 hours at 37° C. After incubation,the pH of the protease incubations was transferred to the same pH-value,before assay for residual activity, by dilution in the pH 9.0 Assaybuffer. The Protazyme AK assay was used for obtaining thetemperature-activity profile at pH 7.0. The Suc-AAPF-pNA assay was usedfor obtaining the temperature-stability profiles in Assay buffer, pH 7.0and in an Assay buffer, pH 7.0 where 1 mM CaCl₂ was substituted with 1mM EDTA. For the temperature-stability profiles the protease was diluted10× in the Assay buffer, pH 7.0 or in the Assay buffer with 1 mM EDTA,pH 7.0 and then incubated for 15 minutes at the indicated temperatures.After incubation, the residual activity in the samples was measured(Savinase was included as a reference in the temperature-stabilityexperiments).

The results are shown in Tables 2-6 below. For Table 2, the activitiesare relative to the optimal pH for the enzyme. For Table 3, theactivities are residual activities relative to a sample, which was keptat stable conditions (5° C., pH 9.0). For Table 4, the activities arerelative to the optimal temperature at pH 7.0 for the enzyme. For Tables5 and 6, the activities are residual activities relative to the 37° C.samples.

TABLE 2 pH-activity profile Bacillus sp. NN018132 Bacillus borgouniensisP. dendriti S8A pH S8A protease S8A protease protease 2 0.00 0.00 0.00 30.00 0.00 0.00 4 0.00 0.00 0.00 5 0.01 0.01 0.01 6 0.06 0.06 0.10 7 0.300.29 0.45 8 0.78 0.78 0.94 9 1.00 0.97 1.00 10 0.90 1.00 0.86 11 0.660.75 0.71

TABLE 3 pH-stability profile (residual activity after 2 hours at 37° C.)Bacillus Bacillus sp. NN018132 borgouniensis P. dendriti pH S8A proteaseS8A protease S8A protease 2 0.00 0.00 0.00 3 0.00 0.00 0.00 4 0.00 0.000.00 5 0.21 0.20 0.94 6 1.03 0.87 0.98 7 0.93 0.94 0.99 8 0.99 0.89 0.989 0.93 0.88 1.00 10 0.97 0.99 0.97 11 0.92 0.97 0.97 After 2 hours 1.00(at pH 9) 1.00 (at pH 9) 1.00 (at pH 9) at 5° C.

TABLE 4 Temperature activity profile at pH 7 Temp Bacillus sp. NN018132Bacillus borgouniensis P. dendriti (° C.) S8A protease S8A protease S8Aprotease 15 0.02 0.01 0.00 25 0.04 0.01 0.00 37 0.17 0.10 0.03 50 0.710.39 0.17 60 1.00 1.00 0.49 70 0.15 0.22 1.00 80 0.08 0.09 0.17

TABLE 5 Temperature-stability profile in buffer pH 7.0 with 1 mM CaCl₂(residual activity after 15 minutes) Bacillus sp. Bacillus P. dendritipH Temp NN018132 S8A borgouniensis S8A (° C.) protease S8A proteaseprotease Savinase 15 0.97 1.01 1.03 1.00 25 0.97 1.01 1.03 0.95 37 1.001.00 1.00 1.00 50 1.00 0.99 1.03 0.98 60 0.67 0.74 1.03 0.98 70 0.000.00 0.49 0.29 80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

TABLE 6 Temperature-stability profile in buffer pH 7.0 with 1 mM EDTA(residual activity after 15 minutes) pH Bacillus sp. Bacillus TempNN018132 S8A borgouniensis P. dendriti S8A (° C.) protease S8A proteaseprotease Savinase 15 1.02 0.97 1.02 1.07 25 1.01 0.95 0.99 1.00 37 1.001.00 1.00 1.00 50 1.02 0.94 0.97 0.52 60 0.67 0.69 0.98 0.00 70 0.000.00 0.45 0.00 80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Other Characteristics

The S8A protease from Bacillus sp. NN018132, Paenibacillusdendritiformis and Bacillus bogoriensis was inhibited by PMSF.

N-Terminal

The protease was diluted to approximately 1 mg/ml and 100 μl was mixedwith 33 μl 50% TCA solution and incubated 5 minutes on ice. Theprecipitate was harvested by centrifugation 14.000 g in 5 minutes andresuspended in a mixture of 100 μl 2× Sample Buffer 50 μl 4×NuPAGE LDSSample buffer (Invitrogen)+125 μl water and 25 μl 15% DTT. The mixturewas heated 5 minutes at 95° C. and 20 μl was loaded on a 4-20%Tris-Glycine gel (NuPAGE 4-12%, MES buffer, Bis-Trin (Invitrogen)) andthe gel was run at 200V, 100 mA for 35 minutes and developed usingComassie Blue stain. The protease was found to have a molecular weightof approximately 28 kDa.

The protease band was blotted to a PVDF membrane and the N-terminalsequence was determined using an Applied Biosystems Procise ProteinSequencer according to the manufacturer's instructions. The N-terminalsequence of the peptide from Bacillus sp. NN018132 was determined to be:MHNNQRW, corresponding to the amino acids in position 1-7 in SEQ ID NO:2. Thus the N-terminal of the mature protease corresponds to position 1of SEQ ID NO: 2.

The N-terminal sequence of the peptide from Bacillus bogoriensis wasdetermined to be: MHNNQRW, corresponding to the amino acids in positions1-7 in SEQ ID NO: 4. Thus the N-terminal of the mature proteasecorresponds to position 1 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

The N-terminal sequence of the peptide from Paenibacillus dendritiformiswas determined to be: AIHNNQR, corresponding to the amino acids inpositions 1-7 in SEQ ID NO: 6. Thus the N-terminal of the matureprotease corresponds to position 1 of SEQ ID NO: 6.

Molecular Weight

The molecular weight was further determined using mass spectroscopy byLC-MS consisting using a Agilent 1100HPLC equipped with a BrukermicroTOF focus mass analyzer. Samples were desalted using Bio Rad MicroBi-Spinh 6 chromatography Column Cat no. 732-6221 following themanufacturer's instructions, and 70 μl was loaded on a Waters MassPREPOn-Line Desalting 2.1×10 mm column, Part no. 186002785. The sample waseluted with a step elution of 80% Can 0.05% TFA.

LC-method Part: masspresLC10Min2061221TFA

A-solvent=0.05% TFA

B-solvent=Can, 0.05% TFA

MS acquisition Method Part: MassPresMS070529cmc

Data Path: 0711aESIMS

Mass analyzer calibrated with Tunemix fra Agilent.

The measured mass of Bacillus sp. NN018132 was 28116.3 Da (major peak),corresponding to amino acids 1-275 of SEQ ID NO: 2 (calculated to28116.0 Da). Thus, the mature protein has the amino acid sequencecorresponding to amino acids 1-275 of SEQ ID NO: 2.

The measured mass of Bacillus bogoriensis was 28341.2 Da (major peak),corresponding to the amino acids 1-275 of SEQ ID NO: 4 (calculated to28341.1 Da). Thus, the mature protein has the amino acid sequencecorresponding to amino acids 1-275 of SEQ ID NO: 4.

The measured mass of Paenibacillus dendritiformis was 28619.2 Da (majorpeak), corresponding to the amino acids 1-283 of SEQ ID NO: 6(calculated to 28619.3 Da). Thus, the mature protein has the amino acidsequence corresponding to amino acids 1-283 of SEQ ID NO: 6.

Example 3: Low Temperature Mini Wash Assay

Wash performance of the protease prepared in Example 2 is assessed inlaundry wash experiment using Mini wash assay, which is a test method,where soiled textile continuously is lifted up and down into the testsolution and subsequently rinsed.

The experiments were conducted with two selected commercial detergentscompositions: UL (Unilever) Persil Small & Mighty and Iconic Base. Theperformance was compared with the well know detergent protease Savinase(available from Novozymes A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) (Bacilus lentusprotease). The tests were conducted at 20° C. in order to evaluate thewash performance at low temperature.

The wash experiment is conducted under the experimental conditionsspecified in Tables 7 and 8 below:

TABLE 7 Detergent and test materials Detergent Unilever Persil Small &Mighty non-bio Detergent 1.33 g/l dose PH “as is” in the currentdetergent solution and is not adjusted. Water 15°dH, adjusted by addingCaCl₂*2H₂O, MgCl₂*6H₂O and hardness NaHCO₃ (4:1:7.5) to milli-Q water.Enzymes Savinase, Bacillus sp. NN018132 S8A protease Enzyme 0 nM, 5 nM,10 nM, 30 nM, 60 nM, 100 nM conc. Test solution 50 ml volume Test EMPA117EH textile swatches (23 × 3 cm) material PC-03 textile swatches C-10textile swatches Temperature 20° C. Wash time 20 min Rinse time 10 minTest system Soiled textile continuously lifted up and down into the testsolutions, 50 times per minute. The test solutions are kept in 125 mlglass beakers. After wash of the textiles are continuously lifted up anddown into running tap water, 50 times per minute.

TABLE 8 Detergent and test materials Detergent Iconic Base Detergent 3.5g/l dose pH “as is” in the current detergent solution and is notadjusted. Water 15°dH, adjusted by adding CaCl₂*2H₂O, MgCl₂*6H₂O andhardness NaHCO₃ (4:1:7.5) to milli-Q water. Enzymes Savinase, Bacillussp. NN018132 S8A protease Enzyme 0 nM, 5 nM, 10 nM, 30 nM, 60 nM, 100 nMconc. Test solution 50 ml volume Test EMPA 117EH textile swatches (23 ×3 cm) material PC-03 textile swatches C-10 textile swatches Temperature20° C. Wash time 20 min Rinse time 10 min Test system Soiled textile iscontinuously washed by lifting up and down into the test solutions, 50times per minute. The test solutions are kept in 125 ml glass beakers.After wash, the textiles are continuously rinsed by lifting up and downinto running tap water, 50 times per minute.

Test materials are obtained from EMPA Testmaterials AG Mövenstrasse 12,CH-9015 St, Gallen, Switzerland, from Center For Testmaterials BV, P.O.Box 120, 3133 KT Vlaardingen, the Netherlands.

The washed and rinsed soiled textiles are subsequently air-dried and thewash performance is measured as the brightness of the color of thesetextiles. Brightness can also be expressed as the Remission (R), whichis a measure for the light reflected or emitted from the test materialwhen illuminated with white light. The Remission (R) of the textiles ismeasured at 460 nm using a Zeiss MCS 521 VIS spectrophotometer. Themeasurements are done according to the manufacturer's protocol.

The Remission of the swatches; EMPA117EH, PC-03 and C-10, using Savinaseor Bacillus sp. NN018132 S8A protease at various conc. in UL PersilSmall & Mighty non-bio, 1.33 g/L, 15° dH, temperature 20° C., Miniwash,20 min.

TABLE 9 Remission in UL Small and Mighty PC-03 C-10 EMPA117EH BacillusBacillus Bacillus sp. sp. sp. NN018132 NN018132 NN018132 EMPA117EH S8APC-03 S8A C-10 S8A nM Savinase protease Savinase protease Savinaseprotease 0 9.15 9.76 29.56 29.69 37.59 38.59 5 10.64 11.00 30.30 29.6839.60 40.88 10 10.79 11.24 30.93 31.49 40.42 41.48 30 11.26 12.08 32.1433.57 41.86 43.83 60 11.44 12.59 32.84 34.73 42.14 44.44 100 11.45 12.9833.50 35.75 42.99 44.94

The Remission of the swatches; EMPA117EH, PC-03 and C-10, using Savinaseor Bacillus sp. NN018132 S8A protease at various conc. in Iconic Base,3.5 g/L, 15° dH, temperature 20° C. Miniwash, 20 min.

TABLE 10 Remission in Ionic base PC-03 C-10 EMPA117EH Bacillus BacillusBacillus sp. sp. sp. NN018132 NN018132 NN018132 EMPA117EH S8A PC-03 S8AC-10 S8A nM Savinase protease Savinase protease Savinase protease 0 8.929.47 28.67 28.80 37.81 38.33 5 10.16 9.80 29.73 29.48 39.99 38.64 1011.24 10.26 30.95 29.74 41.91 39.41 30 12.97 11.72 34.07 31.50 44.1842.67 60 14.18 13.22 35.68 33.37 45.89 44.20 100 14.93 13.89 36.42 35.0846.93 46.12

The protease of the invention shows good wash performance in the washexperiments and has on pair performance with the commercial proteaseSavinase at low temperature (20° C.) in one of the two tested detergentcomposition.

Example 4: Evaluation of the Stability of S8 Protease Bacillus sp.NN018132 in Liquid Detergent Using AMSA

The stability of the S8 from Bacillus sp. NN018132 in detergent wastested by examining the wash performance of the detergent with proteaseusing an Automatic Mechanical Stress Assay at 2 different washtemperatures. 3 different stability conditions were tested, which are:

the protease was added to the detergent composition immediately beforewash;

the protease was pre-incubated with the detergent for 48 hours at 25°C.; and

the wash liquor was pre-incubated for 30 minutes at 40° C. beforestarting the wash.

The experiments were conducted as described in the Automatic MechanicalStress Assay (AMSA) for laundry method using a single cycle washprocedure, with the detergent composition and swatches described inTable 1 and the experimental conditions as specified in Table 11 below.

TABLE 11 Experimental conditions for AMSA in Table 1 Test solution 8 g/Lmodel detergent B Test solution volume 160 micro L pH As is Wash time 20minutes Temperature 20° C. or 40° C. Water hardness 15°dH Proteaseconcentration 0 (blank) or 30 nM Swatch PC-05 (blood/milk/ink)

Water hardness was adjusted to 15° dH by addition of CaCl₂, MgCl₂, andNaHCO₃ (Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺:CO₃ ²⁻=4:1:7.5) to the test system. After washing thetextiles were flushed in tap water and dried.

TABLE 12 Delta intensity enzyme value of detergent containing S8protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 or Savinase compared to detergent withoutprotease on a PC-05 swatch. Δ Wash performance at 20° C. Δ Washperformance at 40° C. 48 hr in- 48 hr in- ½-hr pre detergent ½-hr predetergent Fresh incubation stability at Fresh incubation stabilityenzyme at 40° C. 25° C. enzyme at 40° C. at 25° C. Bacillus sp. NN01813290 46 83 76 7 72 Savinase 83 74 80 78 77 73

The results show that detergent containing S8 protease Bacillus sp.NN018132 has the same wash performance after 48 hours storage at 25° C.in liquid detergent as the fresh enzyme which is added to the detergentimmediately prior to the wash. This shows that under these conditionsthe S8 protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 shows good detergent stability.

Moreover, the results show that detergent containing S8 proteaseBacillus sp. NN018132 has the lost some wash performance after a 30minute pre-incubation of the wash liquor at 40° C. when compared to theperformance in wash liquor prepared with fresh enzyme added to thedetergent immediately prior to the wash. This shows that under theseconditions the S8 protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 shows good in-washstability and that the enzyme has to work rapidly at the beginning ofthe wash cycle as fresh enzymes Savinase and Bacillus sp. NN018132perform similar.

Example 5 AMSA Wash Performance of S8 Protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 inDifferent Water Hardness's and Protease Concentrations Using a LiquidDetergent

The wash performance of S8 protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 was testedusing a liquid detergent in 3 different water hardnesses and 2 differentenzyme concentrations on 3 different technical stains using theAutomatic Mechanical Stress Assay.

The experiments were conducted as described in the AMSA for laundrymethod using a single cycle wash procedure, with the detergentcomposition and swatches described in Table 1 and the experimentalconditions as specified in Table 13 below.

TABLE 13 Experimental conditions for AMSA for Tables 14, 15 and 16 Testsolution 2 g/L model detergent B Test solution volume 160 micro L pH Asis Wash time 20 minutes Temperature 40° C. Protease concentration 0(blank), 5 nM or 30 nM Swatch EMPA117EH, PC-03, C-10

Water hardness was adjusted to 6, 16 or 24° dH by addition of CaCl₂ andMgCl₂, (Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺=5:1) to the test system. After washing the textileswere flushed in tap water and dried.

TABLE 14 Delta intensity enzyme value of detergent containing S8protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 or Savinase compared to detergent withoutprotease on EMPA117EH swatches at 40° C. Enzyme conc. 5 nM 5 nM 5 nM 30nM 30 nM 30 nM Water hardness 6°dH 16°dH 24°dH 6°dH 16°dH 24°dH Savinase1 4 16 22 21 50 Bacillus sp. 32 27 30 68 61 57 NN018132

The results show that the detergent containing S8 protease Bacillus sp.NN018132 is especially effective at removing blood/milk/ink oncotton/polyester stains in low to medium water hardnesses both comparedto the detergent without protease and to the detergent containingSavinase.

TABLE 15 Delta intensity enzyme value of detergent containing S8protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 or Savinase compared to detergent withoutprotease on PC-03 swatches at 40° C. Enzyme conc. 5 nM 5 nM 5 nM 30 nM30 nM 30 nM Water hardness 6°dH 16°dH 24°dH 6°dH 16°dH 24°dH Savinase 35 13 14 18 19 Bacillus sp. 20 16 21 38 36 41 NN018132

The results show that the detergent containing S8 protease Bacillus sp.NN018132 is especially effective at removing chocolate-milk/ink oncotton/polyester stains in low to medium water hardnesses both comparedto the detergent without protease and to the detergent containingSavinase.

TABLE 16 Delta intensity enzyme value of detergent containing S8protease Bacillus sp. NN018132 or Savinase compared to detergent withoutprotease on C-10 swatches at 40° C. Enzyme conc. 5 nM 5 nM 5 nM 30 nM 30nM 30 nM Water hardness 6°dH 16°dH 24°dH 6°dH 16°dH 24°dH Savinase 3 2324 10 13 16 Bacillus sp. 17 14 13 25 24 24 NN018132

The results show that detergent containing S8 protease Bacillus sp.NN018132 is effective at removing oil/milk/pigment stains in low tomedium water hardnesses both compared to the detergent without proteaseand to the detergent containing Savinase.

Example 6: AMSA Wash Performance of P. dendriti Using Two DifferentLiquid Detergents

The wash performance of S8 protease from P. dendriti was tested using amodel liquid detergent and a commercial liquid detergent at 2 differentwash temperatures on 2 different technical stains using the AutomaticMechanical Stress Assay.

The experiments were conducted as described in the AMSA for laundrymethod using a single cycle wash procedure, with the detergentcomposition and swatches described in Table 1 and the experimentalconditions as specified in Table 17 below.

TABLE 17 Experimental conditions for AMSA for Table 18 below Testsolution 8 g/L liquid model detergent B and UL Persil Small&Mightynon-bio, 1.33 g/L Test solution volume 160 microL pH As is Wash time 20minutes Temperature 20° C. or 40° C. Water hardness 15°dH Proteaseconcentration 0 (blank) or 30 nM Swatch PC-05 (Blood/milk/ink) & PC-03(Chocolate/milk/soot)

Water hardness was adjusted to 15° dH by addition of CaCl₂, MgCl₂, andNaHCO₃ (Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺:CO₃ ²⁻=4:1:7.5) to the test system. After washing thetextiles were flushed in tap water and dried.

TABLE 18 Delta intensity value of detergent containing S8 protease fromP. dendriti compared to detergent without protease Small and MightyDetergent B Small and Mighty Detergent B (1.33 g/L) (8 g/L) at (1.33g/L) (8 g/L) at Swatch at 20° C. 20° C. at 40° C. 40° C. PC-03 3 4 5 18PC-05 8 23 13 43

The results show that the detergent containing S8 protease from P.dendriti is more effective at removing stains compared to the detergentwithout any protease. S8 protease from P. dendriti is also effective atremoving blood/milk/ink stains even at 20° C.

Example 7: AMSA Wash Performance of Bacillus Borgouniensis Using TwoDifferent Liquid Detergents

The wash performance of S8 protease from Bacillus borgouniensis wastested using a model liquid detergent and a commercial liquid detergentat 2 different wash temperatures on 2 different technical stains usingthe Automatic Mechanical Stress Assay.

The experiments were conducted as described in the AMSA for laundrymethod using a single cycle wash procedure, with the detergentcomposition and swatches described in Table 1 and the experimentalconditions as specified in Table 19 below.

TABLE 19 Experimental conditions for AMSA for Table 20 Test solution 8g/L liquid model detergent B and UL Persil Small&Mighty non-bio, 1.33g/L Test solution volume 160 microL pH As is Wash time 20 minutesTemperature 20° C. or 40° C. Water hardness 15°dH Protease concentration0 (blank) or 30 nM Swatch PC-05 (Blood/milk/ink) & PC-03(Chocolate/milk/soot)

Water hardness was adjusted to 15° dH by addition of CaCl₂, MgCl₂, andNaHCO₃ (Ca²⁺:Mg²⁺:CO₃ ²⁻=4:1:7.5) to the test system. After washing thetextiles were flushed in tap water and dried.

TABLE 20 Delta intensity value of detergent containing S8 protease fromBacillus borgouniensis compared to detergent without protease Small andMighty Detergent B Small and Mighty Detergent B (1.33 g/L) (8 g/L) at(1.33 g/L) (8 g/L) at Swatch at 20° C. 20° C. at 40° C. 40° C. PC-03 5 67 23 PC-05 12 15 31 49

The results show that the detergent containing S8 protease from Bacillusborgouniensis is more effective at removing stains compared to thedetergent without any protease. S8 protease from Bacillus borgouniensisis also effective at removing blood/milk/ink stains even at 20° C.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. A method of producing a polypeptide having proteaseactivity, comprising cultivating a recombinant host cell underconditions conducive for production of the polypeptide, wherein (a) therecombinant host comprises a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide,(b) the polypeptide has at least 95% sequence identity to amino acids1-275 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and (c) the polynucleotide is operably linked toone or more control sequences that direct the production of thepolypeptide in the recombinant host cell.
 23. The method of claim 22,wherein the polypeptide has at least 97% sequence identity to aminoacids 1-275 of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein thepolypeptide is a fragment of amino acids 1-275 of SEQ ID NO: 2 and thefragment has protease activity.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein thepolypeptide comprises amino acids 1-275 of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 26. The methodof claim 22, further comprising recovering the polypeptide.
 27. Themethod of claim 23, further comprising recovering the polypeptide. 28.The method of claim 24, further comprising recovering the polypeptide.29. The method of claim 25, further comprising recovering thepolypeptide.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein the recombinant host isa Bacillus recombinant host cell.
 31. The method of claim 23, whereinthe recombinant host is a Bacillus recombinant host cell.
 32. The methodof claim 24, wherein the recombinant host is a Bacillus recombinant hostcell.
 33. The method of claim 25, wherein the recombinant host is aBacillus recombinant host cell.
 34. The method of claim 30, wherein theBacillus recombinant host cell is a host cell selected from the groupconsisting of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, andBacillus subtilis.
 35. The method of claim 31, wherein the Bacillusrecombinant host cell is a host cell selected from the group consistingof Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillussubtilis.
 36. The method of claim 32, wherein the Bacillus recombinanthost cell is a host cell selected from the group consisting of Bacillusamyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus subtilis. 37.The method of claim 33, wherein the Bacillus recombinant host cell is ahost cell selected from the group consisting of Bacillusamyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus subtilis.
 38. Amethod of producing a polypeptide having protease activity, comprisingcultivating a recombinant host cell under conditions conducive forproduction of the polypeptide, wherein (a) the recombinant hostcomprises a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide, (b) the polypeptidecomprises a catalytic domain which has at least 95% sequence identity toamino acids 7-270 of SEQ ID NO: 2, and (c) the polynucleotide isoperably linked to one or more control sequences that direct theproduction of the polypeptide in the recombinant host cell.
 39. Themethod of claim 38, wherein the catalytic domain has at least 97%sequence identity to amino acids 7-270 of SEQ ID NO:
 2. 40. The methodof claim 38, wherein the catalytic domain comprises amino acids 7-270 ofSEQ ID NO:
 2. 41. The method of claim 38, wherein the recombinant hostis a Bacillus recombinant host cell.